More than 14,000 data breaches logged by ICO

MORE than 14,000 data breaches have been logged in the UK alone during the first year since the introduction of new data protection laws.

Between May 25, 2018, the day which GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) was introduced, and the beginning of May this year, the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) received a total of 14,072 data breach notifications.

The number is up four times on the data breaches it logged from April 2017-18, which stood at 3,311.

New laws were designed to give people more control and access to the personal data collected from them by organisations, with more transparency and the threat of larger fines to those in breach of the rules also introduced.

The number of complaints from the public has also increased, almost doubling from around 21,000 the year before GDPR was introduced, to 41,054 this year.

However, a fine is yet to be issued under GDPR.

“The first fines under the General Data Protection Regulation are due to be issued soon, once the necessary legal processes have been completed,” an ICO spokeswoman said.

“However, we want organisations to focus on how data protection law can help them to get it right and enhance their reputations by earning people’s trust and confidence, rather than how they might be punished if they get it wrong.

“The introduction of GDPR was not a deadline but the start of an ongoing process and there is a lot more work to be done.”