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Is it illegal to send a clients data through the post?

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  • 30-08-2012 3:41pm
    #1
    shotgunmcgee
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭


    I wasn't sure which forum to put this in, please feel free to move it.

    Simple really, is it illegal to post a client's data, on Memory Stick for instance or otherwise, from a business to the client.
    Tagged:


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    #2
    28064212
    Registered Users Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    shotgunmcgee wrote: »
    I wasn't sure which forum to put this in, please feel free to move it.

    Simple really, is it illegal to post a client's data, on Memory Stick for instance or otherwise, from a business to the client.
    Not simple really. What's the data? Have you signed a non-disclosure-agreement? Do you have a privacy policy? What does your contract with the client say?

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    #3
    schemingbohemia
    Registered Users Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭schemingbohemia


    No, but if it gets lost and you have caused a breach of their personal data you could be in trouble.


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    #4
    juan.kerr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,766 ✭✭✭juan.kerr


    How would this any different than sending a letter containing the same information by post?

    Invoices, quotes, contracts, bank statements etc are sent by post every day.


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    #5
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,317 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    juan.kerr wrote: »
    How would this any different than sending a letter containing the same information by post?

    Invoices, quotes, contracts, bank statements etc are sent by post every day.
    In general digital data has higher requirements then their paper counterpart (for example you can send a paper invoice but sending a scanned copy of the same invoice is not considered a legal invoice for VAT recovery etc.).

    To the OP you're asking a legal question; the only one that can answer that is a solicitor and not random people on the internet. In general as advice I would never recommend to send anything via normal post and courier only if it is encrypted properly as a general rule of thumb.


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    #6
    harney
    Registered Users Posts: 1,215 ✭✭✭harney


    There are lots of issues with this and no simple answer. A lot depends on the information you are sending and the industry that you are working in.

    If you are going to send information via usb stick, then it should not leave without encrypting the data and sending the password (if you are using a password to decrypt) by a completely different method.

    I am not sure if a solicitor could really help, you might be better aiming towards some sort of information security consultant as they will deal with this type of issue more often.


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    #7
    RangeR
    Registered Users Posts: 7,265 ✭✭✭RangeR


    shotgunmcgee wrote: »
    I wasn't sure which forum to put this in, please feel free to move it.

    Simple really, is it illegal to post a client's data, on Memory Stick for instance or otherwise, from a business to the client.

    1. Encrypt the stick. Give the destination user the password / key.
    2. Encrypt the data. FTP the data to the end user.

    Moto : ENCRYPT!!!


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    #8
    CoachTO
    Closed Accounts Posts: 987 ✭✭✭CoachTO


    RangeR wrote: »
    1. Encrypt the stick. Give the destination user the password / key.
    2. Encrypt the data. FTP the data to the end user.

    Moto : ENCRYPT!!!

    Definitely this. I came out of the gym one night and found a memory stick full of legal information. Old and new cases and personal details and was shocked that someone carried this stuff around on a usb stick with no encryption. I ended up finding details of the Solicitor who owned it and gave it back to them and while I was there showed them how to encrypt the usb stick if they insisted carrying all that data around.


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    #9
    The Guvnor
    Registered Users Posts: 2,800 ✭✭✭The Guvnor


    Plus send if sending via mail - register it for the extra few euro.


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