BA set to challenge huge fine over customer data theft

[Destry Winant <destry () riskbasedsecurity com>]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ba-set-to-challenge-huge-fine-over-customer-data-the-459509/

The UK Information Commissioner's Office has informed the carrier that
it intends to penalise the operator with a fine equivalent to 1.5% of
its global turnover for the 2017 financial year.

British Airways disclosed last year that a theft of data from its
website had taken place over the course of two weeks in
August-September 2018.

But it subsequently found that additional data may have been stolen
from customers a few months earlier, in April-July.

BA's turnover in 2017 reached £12.226 billion which means the overall
fine amounts to just under £183.4 million.

But the carrier appears set to challenge the proposed penalty. Parent
company IAG's chief, Willie Walsh, says BA will be "making
representations" to the commissioner's office regarding the fine.

"We intend to take all appropriate steps to defend the airline's
position vigorously, including making any necessary appeals," he says.

The airline's chief executive, Alex Cruz, has also expressed concern
over the initial ruling, saying that the company is "surprised and
disappointed".

"BA responded quickly to a criminal act to steal customers' data," he
says. "We have found no evidence of fraud [or] fraudulent activity on
accounts linked to the theft.

"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this event caused."
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