In this blog, MyCase Solicitors will advise you on what to do when your personal data has been stolen by a company or illegal organisation for misuse.
Recently, one of Ireland’s major courier companies fell victim to a massive data breach, putting customer’s personal contact details at risk. Customers were issued with emails from the courier service and online shops to inform them of this breach, whereby their names, addresses, mobile numbers, and email addresses had been hacked by persons unknown. If you were one of these victims, here’s what to do.
CAN I FILE A CLAIM?
The first thing to do after being notified of a data breach is to understand your legal rights. In Ireland and Europe, under GDPR, the nonconsensual stealing or hacking of personal data is illegal. As a result of this, you may be able to file a claim with your solicitor. If you received an email from the courier service in question, or an online store, you should contact a data protection solicitor to see what the next step you take should be. MyCase Solicitors is a Dublin data protection solicitor specialising in GDPR law and regulations and has helped many clients file claims relating to data breaches.
CAN I BE COMPENSATED?
While compensation is not guaranteed, a data breach is an actionable claim. Even if you have not suffered an actual loss, as a victim of a data breach, you could be entitled to compensation. This level of compensation would be expected to be even greater if you have suffered an actual loss as a result of the data breach. Data breach cases normally move quickly to a conclusion in approximately a year, however, these cases can be settled outside of court also. It is always recommended to consult with a legal professional or data breach solicitor no matter what kind of settlement you decide on.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF A DATA BREACH?
If you have been the victim of personal data being stolen, it’s important to take legal action as the impact of stolen personal data can be extremely detrimental. While the full effects of this particular data breach have not been determined fully yet, there is an apprehension that the data illegally processed could be used for identity theft, fraudulent online identity creation, or even to hack other accounts that the subject of the data breach owns.
If you believe that your personal data has been stolen, get onto MyCase Solicitors’ experienced Dublin Data Protection Solicitors today.