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University Of East London Data Breach Compensation Claims Guide

We imagine that running a university isn’t an easy job. To keep track of how students are progressing, it is inevitable that universities will need to store some personal information. That’s fine but it must be kept safe and steps need to be taken to prevent it from getting into the public domain. That’s because personal data is a valuable commodity. In this article, we are going to examine the concept of data breach claims against the University of East London. We’ll show the harm that could result from a data breach, how they can happen and why you might need to be compensated.

University Of East London data breach claims guide

University Of East London data breach claims guide

In recent times, new laws have been introduced relating to data privacy. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was passed into UK law when The Data Protection Act 2018 was enacted. Together, these pieces of legislation mean you have a lot more say over how your data is handled. Additionally, organisations have to implement procedures to try and keep that information safe. If a data breach occurs, it is possible that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) could launch an investigation and issue large financial penalties. In addition, the breach could mean you are allowed to claim for any of the harm caused.

Contact Legal Expert

To support you with a data breach claim, Legal Expert offers an assessment of all cases, without obligation, as well as free advice about your claim. If your case appears to have a reasonable chance of being won, you might be referred to a specialist solicitor from our team. If they decide to work on your case, they will act on a No Win No Fee basis.

To contact us today regarding a university data breach claim, please call our specialists on 0800 073 8804. For further free advice before calling, please read the rest of our guide.

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A Guide On Data Breach Claims Against The University Of East London

If a security breach involving your personal data occurs, it’s possible that no harm will come from it at all. However, there is also the chance that it could cause substantial harm if the information got into the wrong hands. It could cause untold embarrassment, anxiety, stress or even long-term financial losses if used in a criminal manner.

That’s where the GDPR can help. If an organisation wants to use your personal information, they need to design procedures and processes to keep it safe. In addition, you must generally be told why your data will be used.

When data breaches happen, the ICO has the power to fine the responsible organisation if they are found at fault for not adhering to data protection laws. They can’t issue compensation though. If you want to be compensated for the harm caused by a data breach, you’ll have to begin your own legal proceedings.

In most cases, there is a 6-year time limit to lodge your claim. That limitation period might be lowered to 1-year, though, if your case relates human rights breaches. Our specialist solicitors usually advise claimants to begin their claim as soon as possible. By doing so, it will usually be easier to remember how you were affected. This help when discussing the case with your data breach solicitor. Additionally, your data breach solicitor is likely to have more luck obtaining supporting evidence.

Once you have finished reading, please use the number at the top of the screen to request further information. Or to start your data breach claim call us anytime.

What Is A University Information Data Breach?

It is possible for data breaches to happen because either physical or electronic data is leaked. Therefore, while it is possible for breaches to be linked to cyberattacks, phishing emails, malware, viruses, ransomware or keylogging devices, they could also be linked to documents contained in unlocked filing cabinets.

The GDPR document outlines a personal data breach as happening after a security issue causes your personal data to be disclosed, lost, destroyed, altered or accessed accidentally or deliberately. The act which leads to a data breach is sometimes illegal or deliberate but could also be entirely accidental.

If a breach is spotted, the organisation that is responsible (the data controller) needs to assess the impact of the leak. If any individuals (data subjects) are potentially at risk because of the leaked details, they need to be informed right away. They should be told how the breach occurred, the level of information that was exposed, and how it happened. The ICO should also be told about the data breach at this point. But not always. 

Legal Expert is able to help if you suspect you’ve suffered because a data breach took place. Why not call one of our advisors today to explain how you have been affected? You can also have your case assessed for free.

General Data Protection Regulations Pertaining To Universities

The GDPR explains that data controllers need to adhere to the following principles when managing personally identifiable information:

  • Processing personal information should be fair, obvious and legal.
  • Data processors should only collect the minimum set of data required to meet the processing requirements.
  • All processing should be conducted securely and confidentially.
  • Personally identifiable information should not be stored any longer than necessary.
  • It is a requirement to regularly update any personal information which has been stored.

To make it clear, personally identifiable information means any data which could be used to identify the data subject either directly or, in some cases, indirectly. Such information could include email addresses, contact numbers, names, addresses, identification numbers or telephone numbers. Also, it could include data relating to characteristics that are protected including sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, race or disability.

For information on how to make a university data breach claim, please get in touch with a specialist advisor from our team today.

Which Universities Have Suffered A Data Breach Event?

This section involves information about a cyber hacker – ransomware on a data management company that affected many different UK universities.

The incident involved a third-party software supplier, Blackbaud, who supply database management software to the higher education sector. While some universities choose to host the software on their own web servers, others choose to make use of Blackbaud’s cloud-based system. It was the latter that was affected by this data hack.

In 2020, Blackbaud was made aware that its servers had been accessed when it received a ransom demand. After conducting an investigation, it realised that backups had been compromised. Some data had been downloaded by the criminals responsible for the hack.

As per protocol, Blackbaud informed any customers whose data had been exposed to the hack. In turn, they needed to contact their alumni and anybody else involved and tell them to be vigilant. Initially, the universities were told that no password or payment information had been exposed but a later news report revealed that it may have been in some cases. In the main, the information which had been stolen included contact details, email addresses and phone numbers.

In an unusual turn of events, Blackbaud decided to pay the ransomware in return for assurances that all stolen data had been removed.

Sources:

  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54370568
  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53528329

Do Higher Education Institutions Often Suffer Data Breaches?

A recent study provides information on data security at universities. The report shows information from 86 universities responding to FOI requests which indicate that:

  • Nearly half of all staff (46%) had been offered no data safety training in the last 12-months.
  • 49% of universities admitted not providing proactive training to their students.
  • More than a quarter (27%) had never had their network security tested by external firms to try to spot potential weak points.
  • The average training budget for each university was only £7,529 annually.
  • In the past 12-months, a staggering 54% of universities reported themselves to the ICO in relation to data breaches.

How To Prevent Cyber And Information Security Breaches

Whilst we are not security or computer security specialists, there is some standard industry advice that could help prevent university data breaches. The actions which might help include:

  • Properly training students, contractors and staff on relevant data protection practices.
  • Regularly updating all software, firmware and hardware.
  • Using encrypted hard drives on laptops, tablets and memory sticks so that their information can’t be accessed if lost or stolen.
  • Reviewing data privacy policies regularly and updating them.
  • Hiring third-party security firms to spot physical and network security issues that could be exploited by hackers.

It is true that these steps could be costly. However, they could save money in the long term. That’s because they might help universities avoid an ICO fine. And, at the same time, prevent potential harm to their students and staff.

What You Could Claim For As A Data Breach Victim

Now we are going to show you what sort of things could be included in a compensation claim for a data breach. Normally, claims are split into two parts. The first part is called material damages which covers financial losses. The second is called non-material damages which are based on injuries caused by the data breach.

In our experience, every claim is unique. That means that it is not possible to tell you what might be included in your claim until it has been assessed by a specialist solicitor. However, once you get in touch, we should be able to provide a personalised estimate. This process is important because as well as claiming for any of the harm you have already suffered; the claim needs to include any future suffering as well.

For example, any money that has been lost already will be included in the claim. However, if your financial details have been exposed to criminals using the dark web, you might suffer additional losses later on as well.

An independent medical specialist could be used to assess the extent of your current psychological injuries like anxiety, depression or stress. Then they would make a judgement about whether your suffering could cause long-term problems.

As we have shown, data breach claims can become rather complex in some cases. That’s the reason we always advise taking out legal representation to support you. If you work with Legal Expert, a specialist solicitor could review your claim thoroughly to try and ensure all aspects of your suffering are claimed for. That’s important as you are only allowed to make one claim. Please contact us today for more information on how to begin a claim.

Calculating The Compensation For A Data Breach Claim Against The University Of East London

In this section, we are going to show the amount of compensation that could be paid for injuries caused by data breaches. Injuries that you suffer due to a data breach will be in line with personal injury cases. The compensation table below that shows amounts for some relevant injuries that are listed in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document is used by legal professionals to help calculate compensation settlements in personal injury cases.

The case Vidal-Hall and others v Google Inc [2015], make it possible to now claim for injuries when no financial loss has occurred.

Edit
Injury Claim Severity Settlement Range Detailed Information
General Psychiatric Damage Moderately Severe £17,900 to £51,460 This type of claim will involve situations where significant problems relating to the ability to cope with work or life occur. Relationships will be affected and the victim will be vulnerable for some time. However, an optimistic prognosis will be offered.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Severe £56,180 to £94,470 Claims in this category will mean the victim will suffer permanent symptoms of PTSD. They will prevent a return to work and the general level of functioning will be nothing like it was prior to the trauma.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Moderately Severe £21,730 to £56,180 There will be similar symptoms to the previous category but with professional help things could improve meaning the claimant will be given a better prognosis.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Moderate £7,680 to £21,730 This category is used when any ongoing symptoms aren’t massively disabling and the claimant will have recovered from most other symptoms.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Less Severe To £7,680 A category for cases where almost all symptoms have been resolved in around 1 to 2-years.

In the table, you will see that the severity of your injuries is an important factor used to determine what amount of compensation is awarded. Therefore, as part of your claim, you will need to participate in a local medical assessment. The meeting will be conducted by an independent medical specialist/ They will ask questions relating to how you have suffered. They will also look at any medical notes that have been sent to them.

After the meeting, a report will be drafted by the specialist detailing their findings which will then be forwarded to your solicitor.

How Do I Choose The Right Solicitor?

If you have got this far in our guide about data breach claims against the University of East London, you might be wondering how to find a solicitor to support you. It can be a time-consuming process that involves reading reviews, asking for recommendations or looking for local solicitor’s firms to work with.

We have an easier method that could save you a lot of time, though. Simply contact Legal Expert to discuss your case. We offer free advice. Also a no-obligation review of your case, and we provide ample opportunity for you to ask questions. If your case is accepted, you will be assigned a solicitor. They will help you understand any legal jargon. And provide regular updates on any progress. Ultimately, your solicitor will work hard to ensure you are compensated fairly for your suffering.

Please contact Legal Expert today if you would like to know any more about the ways in which we could support your claim for a university data breach.

No Win No Fee Data Breach Claims Against The University Of East London

A lot of claimants are usually worried about how much a solicitor will cost if they have decided they would like to use one for their claim. To remove a lot of that worry, our solicitors offer a No Win No Fee solution for any claim that is accepted. This in turn may lower your financial risk.

Before agreeing to work on your case, your case will be examined by a solicitor. This is to see whether it has a fairly good chance of being won. If they decide to take it on, you will be given a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is your contract which shows how the case will be conducted. Additionally, it will explain that:

  • No upfront payment is required for your solicitor.
  • You won’t be asked to pay hidden costs or solicitor’s fees while the case continues.
  • Should your claim not work out, there won’t be any solicitor’s fees to cover.

To cover your solicitor’s costs a success fee will be charged if they win the case (a percentage of any compensation you receive). The legally capped success fee will be explained within the CFA. This is to ensure that you know how much you’ll pay before you agree to work with us.

Our advisors can review whether you are eligible to use our No Win No Fee service, so please get in touch today.

Talk To Our Experts

You have nearly finished reading this guide about data breach claims against the University of East London. If the information we have provided has helped you decide that you’d like to begin a claim with Legal Expert, then here are the details you’ll need to contact us:

We don’t want to waste anybody’s time when you contact us. That is why we’ll keep things simple. We provide honest advice about your chances of being compensated. An advisor will go through your case with you. Then they will examine any evidence you can supply. If the case appears to be strong enough, they could refer you to a specialist solicitor. If the case is accepted, the solicitor will work for you on a No Win No Fee basis.

Where To Learn More

Now that you have finished this guide examining the concept of data breach claims against the University of East London, we are going to give you some links to resources that may be helpful if you make a claim. On top of those links, we’ve also provided details of more of our guides to show some of the other types of claims Legal Expert can help you with. If there is anything else relating to your claim that you would like help with, please get in touch.

Your Right To Object – An ICO guide that shows when you can object to your data being used.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – NHS information on how PTSD is diagnosed, what causes it and how it can be treated.

Workplace Stress Claims – Details of how our solicitors could help you claim for stress at work.

Stroke Misdiagnosis – Information on when a misdiagnosed stroke could entitle you to compensation.

Using CCTV As Evidence – Details on how to obtain CCTV footage that could support a personal injury claim.

Other Useful Compensation Guides

Written By Hambridge

Edited By Melissa.

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    • Patrick Mallon

      Patrick is a Grade A solicitor having qualified in 2005. He's an an expert in accident at work and public liability claims and is currently our head of the EL/PL department. Get in touch today for free to see how we can help you.

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