“Our behaviours must change to protect people’s data”

Wednesday 10 November 2021

The Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) is reminding the public that handling other people’s data is a “significant responsibility”.

It follows the latest publication of data breach statistics, highlighting that sending the wrong data to the wrong person continues to be the main factor.

The ODPA reported 26 personal data breaches during September and October and 14 of those where due to people sending data to the wrong recipient.

“It’s pleasing to see that the level of breaches has dropped from the number seen for the previous reporting period, but each breach matters and we must continue to put every effort into reducing them as much as possible,” said the Bailiwick’s Data Protection Commissioner, Emma Martins.

“While it’s true that not every email or piece of post sent to the wrong recipient represents a breach, every time a mistake like this is made, the potential is there for real harm to be done to an individual.”

Pictured: The ODPA has been publishing these statistics since June 2018.

“As we approach six-months since the launch of our social initiative, Project Bijou, it’s clear again that there are real opportunities to reduce the incidents of data breaches and the harms that often result,” continued Ms Martins.

“Understanding better how there is always a human at the heart of a breach means we become more invested in caring for personal data properly, not just because it is our legal duty, but because it is right and ethical to do so. It is people that can be harmed when things go wrong but it is also people who have the opportunity to prevent those things from happening in the first place. If we genuinely engage with the significant responsibility we shoulder when handling other people’s data, we are much more likely to take care.”

You can find more about the ODPA's efforts to avoid these incidents ONLINE.