Intellect, the trade association for the UK technology industry, is launching a working group to examine the viability of a data breach notification law in the UK and the potential impact it would have on businesses.

Barbara Navarro, chair of the data breach notification working group, comments: "Our economy is dependent upon the use of information. Unless we move to ensure the underlying infrastructure supporting all this data is secure, we will undermine consumer and business confidence, which will in turn damage our economy. Most consumers and businesses are not in the habit of treating personal information as an asset but they should be. Data breach notification could be one way of helping businesses to behave more responsibly towards data, but is unlikely to be sufficient by itself."

The working group will seek to work with government and stakeholders to find practical solutions for dealing with data breaches and how best to protect customers. It will also discuss the impact and cost that data breaches have on businesses and on the technology industry as a whole and plans to work with employers to raise the level of importance their staff and their corporate processes place on safeguarding personal data. Specific goals of the group will be decided at the first meeting on 12th November.

www.intellectuk.org/databreach

•Date: 27th Sept 2007• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: ISM
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