Identity Theft Check

Provisions to mitigate data loss should be included in European electronic waste disposal laws, according a European data protection supervisor. There have been calls for manufacturers to integrate privacy-enhancing techniques into computing devices by design, in order for companies and organisations to delete sensitive data more easily.
The marketing of second hand devices that have not had sensitive information removed before resale has also been raised. Under UK law, data must be deleted from obsolete equipment. An ICO spokesperson said that under the DPA companies have responsibilities to store personal information securely but to also delete it once no longer required. After the new powers for the ICO came into effect in April, companies can face a maximum fine of 500,000 for breaches of privacy law.