UK ICO is looking at Lost Laptop

AS YOU MIGHT HAVE DISCERNED, there is something about Lost Laptop, the company that puts itself in between misplaced notebooks and their owners, that we just can't let go of.

Now the UK data privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), has also confirmed that it is taking a closer look at the business and its website.

During our investigation we also contacted the law firm of CMS Cameron McKenna, and Ian Stevens, Partner in the technology and sourcing team, advised us, "In obtaining, accessing, consulting or disclosing individuals' personal data without their consent Lost Laptop risk[s] being held in breach of both the Data Protection Act and the Computer Misuse Act."

Following a request for comment about the service, today the ICO confirmed to us that it is looking into the situation, and in a statement said that it regards the business, and the apparent information that it is sharing, as worthy of further investigation.

A spokesperson for the ICO said, "We are concerned at the existence of a web site that appears to be trading in individuals' lost or stolen laptops, particularly the fact that it is making the content of each laptop, which in some cases may include personal information, available to anyone browsing the site. Any organisation processing personal data must notify with the ICO as a data controller and ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to keep that information safe and secure. This is an important principle of the Act."

The ICO might also be concerned about the validity of the website, and the services that it offers, and it too has noticed some discrepancies with the content of presented files which has led some commentors to believe the site is some sort of elaborate hoax or marketing excercise.

The ICO's statement concludes, "We will be making enquiries into the company behind the web site before deciding what appropriate action, if any, to take."

Incidentally, some of the files that we mentioned in yesterday's story as including personal and private photographs have now been removed from the Lost Laptop website.

Although a note on the website says that laptops that have not been claimed for a period of time will have documents released that could be used to identify the user, a note now replacing some of the more 'delicate' files, explains, "The contents of this file has been removed due to customer concerns and to protect minors. Thank You! Lost Laptop Limited."

It's good to see that the ICO is responding to the concerns of our readers, which seem well-founded, and we'll let you know if the regulator comes to any useful conclusions. µ