Compensation for the leak of sensitive data

When it comes to claiming compensation for the leak of sensitive data, you need the right kind of help and expertise to be able to achieve some form of justice for what you have been through.

Given our extensive experience in representing clients for these types of cases, we really do fully understand – better than most – just how bad this can affect you. As a leading firm of data breach lawyers, we have been at the forefront of this emerging area of law for the last five years, which is a great deal longer than many others. We have represented clients and succeeded with claims for some of the most infamous and sensitive data leaks the UK has ever seen.

It’s important to know that you have a voice and the right to claim compensation. We do offer No Win, No Fee representation for these kinds of cases. Let’s see if we can help you today.

Claiming compensation for the leak of sensitive data

You could be entitled to claim compensation for the leak of sensitive data. The GDPR, and the preceding Data Protection Act 1998, can allow you to receive compensation when your private and sensitive information has been misused or exposed.

What you primarily claim for is the distress that you suffer as a result of the loss of control of your personal information. When it comes to particularly personal and sensitive data, this is the kind of information we want to maintain control over. This means that we can choose who we want to share that information with. When that control is lost, and your personal and sensitive data is now exposed to people you would not have allowed to know about it, it can be devastating.

When we talk about sensitive data, this can include:

• Medical information, such as medical statuses or records about your healthcare generally;
• Social care information;
• Sensitive domestic data and histories which could include abuse information;
• Financial information.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. A lot of how we see whether information is classed as sensitive can come down to the individual circumstances. In certain settings, even a name and address, if associated with other information, could be incredibly sensitive.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has the power to fine organisations millions of pounds for data leaks. The severity of the leak can dictate how much a fine is set at. In terms of data leak compensation amounts, this can also be tied to how personal and sensitive the leaked information is.

We must also account for the added impact of a leak. When someone suffers a leak that is related to an already distressing thing, like in an abuse case, it can make the impact of the leak far worse. We do account for this and these factors are considered when we represent people for a claim for the leak of sensitive data.

Our experience

We represent thousands of clients for individual and group action cases, and we have been working in this complex and niche area of law for over five years. This means that we have taken cases forward for victims for some of the worst and most infamous breaches that the UK has ever seen.

This includes what we still see as one of the worst incidents that has ever involved the NHS. In the 56 Dean Street Clinic leak, almost 800 patients of a service for HIV matters had their private and confidential medical status leaked. Having represented a large group of victims,  we can tell you from first-hand experience that the impact was devastating for many. To have spent years safeguarding a medical status that remains stigmatised, and then to have that completely taken away, has been ruinous for some. We took a large number of claims forward on a No Win, No Fee basis to make sure that the victims of this awful leak had a voice and a pathway to justice.

We have also represented victims in a range of cases for the leak of sensitive data, including leaks that have led to abusive ex-partners knowing the locations of their victims, medical appointments being filmed, and the accidental disclosure of other medical statuses.

Free, no-obligation advice

Our team is on hand to provide you with the free and no-obligation advice that you need for claiming compensation for a data breach.

You can speak to the team confidentially for advice and then we can let you know if we can assist you or not.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you need our help today.

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