UK Banks Dump Credentials in Bin Bags

Plutonite writes "BBC news is reporting that several UK banks face 'unlimited fines' for careless handling of sensitive client information. This apparently came after investigators found account details while rummaging through the trash outside the banks involved. In this age of online banking and related security problems, and in light of this scandal, where can we expect to find the greatest threat of ID theft?"

Comments

Re:Laws

[James_Duncan8181]

Actually the Data Protection Act is UK law, and makes these fines possible. We have all the protections that USians on /. frequently wish for. From the relevant Act:

2.1 Regarding the release of personal data to third parties without specific consent (or publication with the same effect), the assumption is that this is not permitted, except where specific exemptions apply. These exemptions now include:

- where required by law or statutory instrument;

- where required to prevent or detect crime;

- where required to assess or collect tax or duty;

- release to a third party who is sub-contracted to process the data in a way that meets DPA rules.

2.2 With regard to subject access rights, the data subject is presumed to be entitled to access all personal data held about her/himself that falls under the scope of the new Act, with the following main exemptions (i.e. cases where the controller of the data may decline to release certain data, but must justify doing so):

- where disclosure unavoidably identifies a third party;

- where the data was supplied in confidence e.g. references and similar judgements (but please note that examiners' marks and/or comments cannot be assumed to be exempt from disclosure.)

What else could you want? The Act allows for both civil and criminal penalties, so the banks may well be in for quite the can of whoopass.

it aint ever been safe

[eneville]

time to store all my money under the mattress now.

its not really easy to get money out the banks though. they open after i start work, close before i finish, they're difficult during the lunch hour. hell, they only people they're accessible to is bank robbers.