PI aims to pursue UK law firm for data breach

[DaBees-Knees]

http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-566663

Press Release - For immediate release

Privacy International has announced that it is planning legal action against a UK law firm for breaching the privacy of internet users after a security breach.

The information held by ACS:Law, a law firm that has been tracking internet users to pursue legal action for breach of copyright, includes vast amounts of information on thousands of internet users. While the full extent of this breach is not yet known, one report stated that among the stolen files is a single email containing the personal information of approximately 10,000 people assumed to have been involved in file-sharing of pornographic works, exposing their names, addresses, postcodes, and Internet protocol addresses. Other reports indicate that credit card details have also been made available.

According to Alexander Hanff, PI Advisor: "This data breach is likely to result in significant harm to tens of thousands of people in the form of fraud, identity theft and severe emotional distress."

"This firm collected this information by spying on internet users, and now it has placed thousands of innocent people at risk."

PI has briefed the Information Commissioner's Office and is preparing a complaint. PI is also accepting complaints directly from the public, and we urge anyone who is a victim of this breach to get in touch as soon as possible by emailing  alex@privacy.org

If you have been named and need help there's one place you can get it.