- Enforcing jurisdiction
- United Kingdom · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- No confirmed legal basis recorded.
- Privacy topics
Department for Education – Reprimand (United Kingdom, 2022)
Privacy enforcement record
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The UK's Department for Education allowed third parties to access a database containing personal information about children without proper controls. This lack of oversight means that sensitive data was processed in ways that were not originally intended. This matters because it highlights the need for better protection of personal data, especially for vulnerable groups like children.
What happened
The Department for Education permitted third-party access to the LRS database and processed personal data without appropriate controls.
Who was affected
Children whose personal data was stored in the LRS database.
What the authority found
The Information Commissioner's Office found that the Department for Education failed to manage personal data securely and transparently.
Why this matters
This reprimand emphasizes the importance of strict data management practices, especially when dealing with children's information. Organizations should ensure they have clear controls and transparency in their data processing activities.
Source checks
Linked-source text retrieved.
Automated check recorded — 16 October 2026.
Processing notes: articles corrected, national law identified.
Retrieved text may be a secondary summary or an announcement. These automated statuses do not establish that the original decision was read or that the record received an independent legal review. How we check sources
The DfE permitted third party access to the LRS database outside of the DfE and subsequent processing took place of some of that personal data (including children) for the purposes of age verification, without appropriate control or oversight. The investigation has found that therefore the personal data on the LRS database was processed in an insecure manner and for purposes that were not initially intended. Furthermore, the DfE failed to be transparent about that processing.
Outcome
Reprimand
A formal reprimand: the DPA found a violation and issued a formal censure.
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for Department for Education in UK
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
Decision Date
2 November 2022
Authority
Information Commissioner's Office
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. Department for Education - United Kingdom (2022). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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