UK Company Sold Workers' Secret Data

krou writes "The BBC is reporting that the Information Commissioner's Office has shut down a company in the UK for a serious breach of the Data Protection Act. It claims that the company, The Consulting Association in Droitwich, Worcs, ran a secret system that it repeatedly denied existed for 15 years, selling workers' confidential data, including union activities, to building firms, allowing potential employers to unlawfully vet job applicants. About 3,213 workers were in the database, and other information included data on personal relationships, political affiliations, and employment histories. More than 40 firms are believed to have used the service, paying a £3,000 annual fee, and each of them will be investigated, too." The article says that The Consulting Association faces a £5,000 fine — after pulling in £1.8 million over 15 years with its illegal blacklist.

Comments

sounds like the work of a genius

[captainpanic]

getting 1.8 million for things you can also find on facebook! :D

Re:sounds like the work of a genius

[Anonymous Coward]

Why can't an employer know if a person is a union member before hiring him? What happened to freedom of association?

If an employer wants to hire union members he should be free to do so - if he does not want to hire union members he should also be free to do so also. Why is an employee forced to reveal if he has a criminal record? In my experience union membership is a more disruptive force in the workplace than a criminal record.

I've got to hand it to you...

[Ginger Unicorn]

That's some spectacular grammar.

Re:much bigger damage to society

[Beyond_GoodandEvil]

demonization of unions.
Made far easier since the world has seen what sweetheart deals the UAW set themselves up with and how difficult proper education reform has been due to the teachers unions. Really, unions and their leadership are their own worst enemies.