Email threat to privacy
Published: 26 February 2010
I WAS impressed when I received an email sent by Highbury East Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT). The email was an invitation to a public meeting and provided information on how to access the latest SNT newsletter. I provided my email address to the team when I attended a public meeting last year, so the email was not unsolicited and did not compromise my personal information, which I shared with them by choice.
In contrast I was not impressed by an unsolicited email which I received from the Lib Dem finance chief, albeit in his capacity as a ward councillor. I was pleased that in his email (a reply to the SNT email), having helped himself to a subtle claim for credit – “I’m sure that the council’s investment in reducing crime has helped” – he went on to give the team the credit it deserved.
I was gobsmacked, however, that in sending the email Councillor John Gilbert shared my address (which I certainly never gave him) with another 113 people (at least) whose email addresses I now have.
Each of those recipients has my full name and email address and I am signed up to a police community support information distribution list.
Sharing my information with police has ended up with me feeling less safe than before I went to see them last year. My privacy and personal safety have been compromised.
Can Cllr Gilbert be trusted to keep our finances secure when he demonstrates such imprudence with our personal information?
NAME AND (114) ADDRESS(ES) SUPPLIED N5