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Original poster

The aftermath of the intern data leak?

91 replies

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 08/10/2018 15:17

Has anything has been done to tighten security in compliance with law after the incident in April when the paid intern doxxed the women of FWR and drove so many Feminists off the site?

www.theguardian.com/media/2018/apr/19/mumsnet-reports-itself-data-regulator-transgender-rights-row-ip-addresses-posted-twitter

OP posts:
VintageFur · 08/10/2018 17:51

Any search within the database would be time-stamped - and there should be security level clearances in place. Whether anyone actually analyses and monitors this is another matter all together...

But IME as a DB programmer (for an international household name) I had full access to ALL data... However quietly behind the scenes was a security team keeping an eye on "sensitive searches".

Farinthepast · 08/10/2018 17:45

Whilst I appreciate it may take some time to investigate and fully implement any required changes to your systems to ensure that user's data cannot be compromised in the future, I hope @MNHQ will be able to provide an update and timeline for completion of the actions required.

VickyEadie · 08/10/2018 17:39

It's (surely?) a blatant breach of the GDPR.

PlantsArePeopleToo · 08/10/2018 17:37

IIRC she also said she still had people on the inside at MNHQ who were helping her. Was it ever confirmed if she was just BSing or if it was true?

I know MNHQ repeatedly said she wasn't related to anyone there but I'm still not sure I believe that. They did seem oddly relaxed about it.

TheCraicDealer · 08/10/2018 17:00

I was wondering this as well after a Mermaids' twitter thread was quoted saying that the intern was a "whistleblower", without being able to say exactly what there was going on at MNHQ to whistleblow on. Beyond, you know, allowing women to say things they don't like Hmm

FlowerpotFairyHouse · 08/10/2018 16:54

I would also like an update.

LangCleg · 08/10/2018 16:29

I would also like an update.

VickyEadie · 08/10/2018 16:05

@MNHQ

Can we have an update, for our own peace of mind?

And why was the intern responsible allowed to get off scot-free?

misscockerspaniel · 08/10/2018 15:49

I am sure that at the time, we were told that MN had referred the matter to the Information Commissioner (- it was under a duty to do so). What has happened with that?

Original poster
stealthsquirrelnutkin · 08/10/2018 15:45

I would hope now that every access request for user data is time and operator stamped. And that there is a hierarchy of permission to access more sensitive data like personal messages and name change history. anyone know if that is the case?

That's what I am very keen to know. I think enough time has passed for all the necessary security procedure changes to have been enforced, so I'm hoping someone from mumsnet will be along shortly to lay them all out for us and allay our fears.

OP posts:
VickyEadie · 08/10/2018 15:29

HOW could a person who did get off without any repercussions?

As part of the work I do now I had to undergo GDPR training, in which I was warned that if I even inadvertently (e.g. getting my laptop nicked) allowed anyone's data to get into someone else's hands, I faced prosecution and a fine that would ruin my life.

ChilliJamandAvocado · 08/10/2018 15:29

I would hope now that every access request for user data is time and operator stamped. And that there is a hierarchy of permission to access more sensitive data like personal messages and name change history. anyone know if that is the case?

ErrolTheDragon · 08/10/2018 15:26

Have any of you reported your posts to MNHQ to make sure they see this?

ZuttZeVootEeVro · 08/10/2018 15:25

Didn't MN report themselves? Did anything come of it?

Juells · 08/10/2018 15:22

Got off scot free. There was mention of 'a talking-to' and how she was so sorry.

This kind of sorry, I suspect

VickyEadie · 08/10/2018 15:19

Did anything happen to the intern herself? Or did she get off scot-free?