This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-27159648

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Rhondda Cynon Taf residents' details may have been sold in data breach Three Welsh councils' electoral roll data breaches probed
(about 1 hour later)
Residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf may have had their personal details mistakenly sold to credit reference agencies due to a computer software error. An inquiry is under way after three Welsh councils said people's personal data may have been mistakenly sold.
A letter from the authority said details from the full electoral roll were released in March by mistake. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it was concerned about incidents involving Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly and Torfaen.
RCT council said it could not say for sure if anyone's information had been released, but it tried to rectify the breach when it became clear. Their electoral rolls were passed to credit reference agencies, including details which should not go to third parties.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating. A computer software error has been blamed.
A spokesperson said: "The full version of the electoral register should only be used for elections, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit. An ICO spokesperson said: "The full version of the electoral register should only be used for elections, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit.
"Any suggestion that it has been made available for other purposes raises clear data protection concerns."Any suggestion that it has been made available for other purposes raises clear data protection concerns.
"We will making enquiries into the potential data breach at Rhondda Cynon Taf. "We will making enquiries into the potential data breach.
"This will include considering whether the problem has implications for other councils.""This will include considering whether the problem has implications for other councils."
An edited version of the electoral roll can legally be sold to commercial agencies. Immediate steps'
But the letter said Rhondda Cynon Taf council mistakenly sent out a full version, without the appropriate marker showing who had opted to keep their details private. An edited version of the information can be sold to third parties, such as marketing organisations, for commercial use.
A letter from Rhondda Cynon Taf to residents said it mistakenly sent out a full version of the electoral roll in March, without the appropriate marker showing who had opted to keep their details private.
It said it could not be sure if anyone's information had been released but that it had tried to rectify the breach as soon as it became clear.
The authority has voluntarily reported itself to the ICO and will begin an internal investigation.
A spokesperson said: "The council took immediate steps to prevent the further distribution of information, and contacted the Information Commissioners Office to inform them of the breach. We also wrote to each of the individuals concerned.
"The council apologises for this error, but believe it has taken action swiftly to deal with it as soon as it came to light."
Caerphilly council said 23 people had been involved in the breach. The credit reference agencies were immediately notified and an updated register provided.
Torfaen council said four residents had been affected.
A spokesman for Torfaen said: "As soon as we were made aware of the problem the data was amended. We are writing to the people affected to inform them about the issue".