UK: Laptop containing Southend children's social services case notes bought on eBay

[lyger <lyger () attrition org>]

http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/security/data-control/news/index.cfm?newsid=2950

Southend-on-Sea borough council is reviewing its procedures after a laptop 
computer containing social services case notes on local children turned up 
on the eBay auction website.

The council disposes of its used computers through not-for-profit 
organisation Revitalise, which employs disabled people who work with IT 
technicians to recondition used computer equipment for cheap resale to 
schools and voluntary groups.

A council spokesperson said the laptop had .gone missing. from Revitalise, 
but the council had not been aware of the loss until the individual who 
bought the machine on eBay found the social services information and 
reported the matter to the council. The data found on the machine is 
understood to include fostering, adoption and child protection information 
dating from between 1999 and 2003.

[...]
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