UK Privacy Tsar: Stop Excessive Data Collection from Rape Victims

The UK’s privacy watchdog has identified as for an conclusion to excessive facts assortment from victims of rape and serious sexual assault conditions, saying that it breaches facts safety regulations.

In a strongly worded Commissioner’s Opinion, new facts commissioner John Edwards said he anticipated the observe to quit immediately, whilst creating suggestions on how knowledge must be handled in these circumstances.

“Our investigation reveals an upsetting photograph of how victims of rape and really serious sexual assault experience treated. Victims are staying taken care of as suspects, and individuals sense revictimized by a program they expect to guidance them,” he said.

“Change is expected to rebuild have confidence in that will allow far more victims to seek the justice to which they are entitled. I know the sector will guidance these tips. Adjust is attainable and it ought to happen. The legislation needs it and my office will thrust for it.”

Proof indicates that extreme collection of remarkably particular and usually irrelevant data – which include faculty, medical and social service documents – can lead to victims withdrawing their allegations.

The process, identified as a “Stafford statement” in England and Wales, also places extra private information at risk of being accidentally leaked or breached by outsiders. Info minimization is a key tenet of the GDPR.

CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales, Jayne Butler, argued that the ICO’s suggestions will aid law enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Support (CPS) prioritize victims’ rights.

“For significantly way too extended the police and CPS have been requesting, and at periods, demanding unreasonable and excessive amounts of particular details from rape victims and survivors. It feels like to report a rape is to efficiently give up your ideal to privateness: to hope justice you have to anticipate scrutiny,” she stated.

“The commissioner’s suggestions have the likely to significantly make improvements to the encounters of victims and survivor’s likely by the prison justice approach.”

The ICO claimed that the latest approach has led to alarmingly reduced demand and conviction fees for significant sexual offenses. What’s more, victims of rape are extra very likely to be woman, have a incapacity and recognize as homosexual, lesbian or bisexual, it additional.

Some parts of this article are sourced from:
www.infosecurity-magazine.com