T-Mobile Intimated ICO of Data Leak in 2008
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and T-Mobile were both aware of the data leak originating from the latter about a year before news of the leak became public knowledge. This was the latest shocking revelation in the customer privacy breach issue, which is prompting huge protests from among the public and industry analysts.
About a month back, it was revealed that some staff members had been found disclosing private and sensitive information about customers to third party agents. These agents were then selling this information to competitors in the same industry. Information about the conclusion contracts of T-Mobile customers was being sold for hefty paybacks.
Based on this information, competitors were approaching T-Mobile customers when their contracts were about to end and were offering them attractive schemes with their own services. Following these findings, huge protests were raised for implementation of strict penalties on those found guilty of such breach of privacy. The leak was called the biggest ever in the industry.
The case seems to be even more complex now, as new facts have been revealed in this respect by an enquiry to the ICO under the Freedom of Information Act. When asked for the date when T-Mobile first intimated the ICO of the breach, it was revealed that they first filed intimation on December 16, 2008 - about a year before the public was made known of the facts. Investigation by the ICO is still underway though no specifics have been finalised yet for action to be taken.
The public and T-Mobile customers in particular are understandably incensed at what is being viewed as a callous attitude shown by the both T-Mobile and the ICO by not taking immediate action to curb the leak or protect customers from the leak.
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