2007 UK Child Benefit Data Scandal
The 2007 UK child benefit data scandal was a data breach incident in October 2007, when two computer discs owned by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs containing data relating to child benefit went missing. The incident was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, on 20 November 2007. The two discs contained the personal details of all families in the United Kingdom claiming child benefit, of which takeup in the UK is near 100%.
The discs were sent by junior staff at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) based at Waterview Park in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to the National Audit Office (NAO), as unrecorded internal mail via TNT N.V. on October 18. On October 24 the NAO complained to the HMRC that they had not received the data. On November 8, senior officials in HMRC were informed of the loss, with Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling being informed on November 10. On November 20, Darling announced:
| “ | Two password-protected discs containing a full copy of HMRC's entire data in relation to the payment of child benefit was sent to the NAO by HMRC's internal post system operated by the courier TNT. The package was not recorded or registered. It appears the data has failed to reach the addressee in the NAO. | ” |
It has, however, been reported that TNT may not have received the discs, and that they may have been sent with the Royal Mail or DX Services, with whom HMRC also holds accounts.
Read more about this topic: TNT N.V.
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