Heathrow’s Data Slip‑Up Costs It a Stiff £120,000
Heathrow Airport just found itself on the receiving end of a hefty £120,000 fine from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Why? Because a forgotten USB stick turned into a data disaster.
How the Mishap Happened
In October of last year, an employee misplaced a USB drive at the airport that held personal information about staff and other individuals. The bad news? The drive was neither encrypted nor password‑protected. A lucky passer‑by discovered it at a local library and took a look at the data inside.
ICO’s Verdict
“Data Protection should have been high on Heathrow’s agenda,” said Steve Eckersley, director of investigations at the ICO. “Our probe uncovered a catalogue of shortcomings in corporate standards, training and vision that indicated otherwise.”
What Went Wrong
- Corporate Standards: No clear protocols for safeguarding personal data.
- Training: Staff weren’t adequately equipped to handle sensitive information.
- Vision: No unified long‑term goal for data protection.
