• silicon.com
• Management
• CIO Insights

By Steve Ranger, 30 July 2007 13:55

NEWS

Earlier this month silicon.com launched its Full Disclosure campaign, calling for a rethink of existing government policy on when companies should report leaks of their customers' sensitive information.

And now we want our readers to get involved in the campaign too.

At the moment, if a company loses the sensitive data it holds on its customers, there is no obligation for it to warn the individuals put at risk - something that silicon.com thinks should change.

silicon.com's Full Disclosure campaign - what we are asking for...

silicon.com wants the government to review its data protection legislation and improve the reporting of information security breaches in the public and private sectors.

We are calling for greater public debate and for the government to consider legislation that would require organisations that suffer information security breaches to alert their customers if there is a chance the breach has put individuals' sensitive personal data at risk.

We want to hear your views about this campaign and the issues it raises. Make your voice heard by leaving a Reader Comment below, emailing us at editorial@silicon.com or signing the 10 Downing Street e-petition .

One way readers can participate in this campaign is by signing an e-petition on the 10 Downing Street website. You can find the e-petition here, where you can add your name and make your voice heard.

When the petition closes - provided there are a certain number of signatures - officials at Downing Street will email everyone who has signed it, giving details of the government's response.

If you want to find out more about silicon.com's campaign read the original Full Disclosure manifesto or read what a leading lawyer thinks about the current state of data disclosure legislation.

silicon.com thinks the current lack of accountability risks eroding customer trust in the use of online services such as e-tailing and internet banking in the UK, while the cost of identity fraud continues to rise.

But there is an alternative. California and other US states already have legislation in place that requires companies to warn their customers if a data breach involving their info has taken place. In the UK there is no law offering this kind of protection to the public.

silicon.com's Full Disclosure campaign is about giving the public confidence that when they entrust their personal information to an organisation, it will act as a responsible guardian of that data. Reinforcing that trust will encourage more people to interact online, providing an important boost to the online economy. Sign the e-petition and make your voice heard by government.