Most UK consumers want tougher penalties to be handed out to companies guilty of losing data, a survey has indicated.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents to a OnePoll survey, commissioned by LogRhythm, said organisations should receive large fines.
Almost a third went as far as to suggest company directors should be subject to criminal proceedings for serious breaches.
Yesterday the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) issued its first fines since it was handed new powers in April.
Some praised the ICO for showing its muscle, while others suggested the penalties did not amount to much.
The majority of UK people also want to see compulsory data loss disclosure implemented in this country, the survey indicated.
Furthermore, seven in ten of the 5,000 consumers surveyed said more prescriptive regulations are needed.
"Responding to the recent European Commission (EC) personal data protection strategy document, the European data protection supervisor came out in support of wide-ranging reform of data protection laws including the implementation of mandatory data breach notifications," said Ross Brewer, vice president and managing director, international markets, LogRhythm Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
"Our research suggests there is solid public support for such moves."
The research proved companies do not just risk being punished for data loss incidents, they risk losing customers as well, Brewer added.
"Our findings show that when people hear about the loss of confidential information they will actively avoid the organisations involved 66 percent stated they would try to avoid future interactions, while 17 percent were adamant they definitely would not have anything more to do with the guilty party," he added.
It looks likely telecommunications companies will be required to disclose data breaches in the UK from next year, to fit in with EU regulation.
-
AI recruitment tools are still a privacy nightmare – here's how the ICO plans to crack down on misuseNews The ICO has issued guidance for recruiters and AI developers after finding that many are mishandling data
-
“You must do better”: Information Commissioner John Edwards calls on firms to beef up support for data breach victimsNews Companies need to treat victims with swift, practical action, according to the ICO
-
LinkedIn backtracks on AI training rules after user backlashNews UK-based LinkedIn users will now get the same protections as those elsewhere in Europe
-
UK's data protection watchdog deepens cooperation with National Crime AgencyNews The two bodies want to improve the support given to organizations experiencing cyber attacks and ransomware recovery
-
ICO slams Electoral Commission over security failuresNews The Electoral Commission has been reprimanded for poor security practices, including a failure to install security updates and weak password policies
-
Disgruntled ex-employees are using ‘weaponized’ data subject access requests to pester firmsNews Some disgruntled staff are using DSARs as a means to pressure former employers into a financial settlement
-
ICO reprimands Coventry school over repeated data protection failuresNews The ICO said the academy trust failed to follow previous guidance, which caused a serious data breach
-
ICO dishes out fine to HelloFresh for marketing spam campaignNews HelloFresh failed to offer proper opt-outs, the ICO said, and customers weren’t warned their data would be used for months after they cancelled
