Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice

I’m coming down from my Obama victory-fuelled high with a thud this week. (Sigh). As if any further evidence was needed to indicate that all is indeed not well in Data Land, join me in casting a sorry eye over these damning stats:

• 277 (total breaches of confidential information reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office during the past year)
• 29% (the proportion of breaches committed by the private sector);
• 27% (the NHS and other healthcare providers’ dubious share);
• 19% (local and central government’s slice of the data loss pie);
• 17% (the rest of the public sector, come on down!);
• 8% (charities…bah humbug);
• 30 (the number of serious cases the ICO is currently investigating).

These Holidays, I beg you: Can every UK data owner please do as Santa does and, when making your DM lists, please check them at least twice? Not to mention make sure each and every name and address record is accurate, secure, up-to-date and DPA/CPUT compliant?

To my mind, the best gift the DM industry can give the UK public in the lead-up to Christmas this year is peace of mind when it comes to how we’re handling their personal data.