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Inquiry over possible data breach after details 'sold' [South Wales Echo (UK)](South Wales Echo (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) PRIVATE data held by local authorities could have been sold on to marketing companies after computer glitches caused potential data breaches. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council wrote to residents to warn the full version of the electoral register had been made available when only an edited version should have been. Of the other councils contacted last night only Torfaen confirmed they had been affected, with four people's data hit by the same flaw. But insiders said hundreds could have had their information shared illegally, with nearly 90 UK councils using the Idox software that caused the problem. Local authorities routinely sell electoral data to credit reference agencies but flaws meant flags preventing data on people who had refused permission for it to be re-sold were removed. The problem was found almost two weeks ago but it is believed a fix will not be in place before Monday. The Information Commissioner's Office said it would be launching a full inquiry into the issue to find out what had caused the problem. A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taf council said: "The council apologises for this error but believes it has taken action swiftly to deal with it as soon as it came to light." (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |