British Airways, owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG), is facing a fine of more than £183 million from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after hackers stole the personal data of about half a million of the airline’s customers last year, according to the BBC. The ICO said that following an extensive investigation, it found that customer details including login, payment card, name, address and travel booking information were harvested by diverting customers to a fraudulent website, and added that the breach occurred because of BA’s “poor security arrangements” to protect customer information. The incident was first disclosed on September 6, 2018 and BA had initially said that the data of about 380,000 users was compromised. However, it was later found out that another 185,000 customers may have had their personal details stolen as well. “People’s personal data is just that – personal. When an organisation fails to protect it from loss, damage or theft it is more than an inconvenience. That’s why the law is clear – when you are entrusted with personal data you must look after it. Those that don’t will face scrutiny from my office to check they have taken appropriate steps to protect fundamental privacy rights” - Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner Biggest fine for data breach since GDPR kicked in The fine — which amounts to 1.5% of BA’s total revenues for the year that ended December 31, 2017 — is the highest-ever that the ICO has imposed on a company for a data breach. Before…
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