UK to investigate breaches at outsourcing centres

The UK's Information Commissioner is launching an investigation into outsourced data centres after a Channel 4 television programme exposed security breaches at Indian call centres. Channel 4's Dispatches was offered individuals' banking details for as little as £8 by criminal networks in India, Out-Law.com reports. Deputy Information Commissioner David Smith said that dependent on the outcome of the investigation the office would consider whether it should use formal enforcement powers to prevent such incidents. It could potentially prevent some companies from sending their data outside of the UK for processing. Smith said that companies which outsource their data processing or any back office functions are entirely responsible for that data and its security. It is not permissible, he said, for a company to simply pass blame on to a contractor.Full Out-Law.com report