Gardai checked private files on model more than 80 times CONFIDENTIAL information on six high-profile personalities on the Garda Pulse computer system was accessed inappropriately by members of the force. The multiple access to their details was uncovered by auditors from the Data Protection Office. The findings, in a report published yesterday, were described by Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes and his team as particularly disturbing since none of the six had any known major dealings with gardai. Details on one person, who worked in the modelling industry, were accessed more than 80 times while another personalitys data was accessed 50 times. The data protection team identified the inappropriate access, which they said was on a surprising scale, during an extensive sample review of logs on Pulse in relation to well-known public figures and celebrities. The team also checked the Pulse records on three media personalities, including some RTE staff, and a well-known inter-county GAA player. It found that in all of the six cases, the number of Pulse accesses returned appeared to bear no relation to the valid entries relating to them in connection with official garda business. And in several cases, the same gardai had been involved in the access. None of the six had been categorised as an offender or suspect offender by gardai. Some of them had been listed on the Pulse system because they reported a crime and, in one case, a person had reported stolen property. It pointed out that people could be named on Pulse because they were the injured party, or a witness to an incident, or had reported a crime or incident. It said the Data Protection Office fully recognised that the nature of policing work effectively required members of the force to check personal information on a regular basis. But it was imperative that inappropriate access be identified and dealt with to ensure that persons with access to Pulse respected the obligation that came with it. The report pointed out that the Garda authorities were already aware of the problem in advance of the audit and the Garda Commissioner had issued a directive stating that the reason for inquiries into Pulse details should be recorded, without exception.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:16:31 +0000
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