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AIBU?

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Original poster

Data protection breach app?

50 replies

Dontbeatool · 25/01/2023 22:24

So I accidentally found out this week that my dog Walker had added me to a dog walking app several years ago, without my knowledge. This included my personal details- name, phone number, address and my dogs details. Am I right to be annoyed?

OP posts:
SueVineer · 25/01/2023 22:27

I wouldn’t say you were right, no

malmi · 25/01/2023 22:33

Well they are justified in storing that information about their customers so holding the data in an app makes sense. If the data has inappropriately shared or whatever then you may be reasonable to be annoyed but you don't mention anything like that

Oopswediditagain2023 · 25/01/2023 22:55

I'm a bit confused - is the information about you and your dog in the public domain (ie can it be accessed by anyone?) or is it just like an app for scheduling etc? If it's a private thing that only she has access to, like a calendar app for instance, I think you're being unreasonable.

stbrandonsboat · 25/01/2023 23:20

Well it's less risky than using a filofax which can be dropped, get lost or be stolen. She has to store the information somewhere.

titchy · 25/01/2023 23:22

No. Small businesses should never keep details of their clients ever. She should delete all your contact details from her phone, laptop and any address book she uses. If she needs to contact you she should send up pre-arranges smoke signals.

stbrandonsboat · 25/01/2023 23:23

Perhaps she should encode everything 🤔

TheShellBeach · 25/01/2023 23:25

I thought this was about your dog, whose name is Walker.

JanglyBeads · 25/01/2023 23:27
Grin
m00rfarm · 25/01/2023 23:27

titchy · 25/01/2023 23:22

No. Small businesses should never keep details of their clients ever. She should delete all your contact details from her phone, laptop and any address book she uses. If she needs to contact you she should send up pre-arranges smoke signals.

Glad I read to the end of your comment as I was about to get quite snippy with you!

In reply to the OP, which particular GDPR rule do you think they have broken? I assume she can show that she has not distributed your data to a third party, in which case I am not sure what the upset is about.

NumberTheory · 26/01/2023 03:48

Depends what the app does. If it’s a service she used to keep track of you as a client, work out her schedule and bill you, then YAprobablyBU. It’s unfortunate that the app had a data breach but, assuming she had reason to think they were taking normal security precautions, this isn’t har behaving badly.

If it’s some sort of Grindr for dogs and/or their owners, then YANBU.

Changingplace · 26/01/2023 04:07

It entirely depends who has access to the info stored on the app.

If it’s for her personal use it’s no different to having it written in a diary or saved to a spreadsheet on her laptop, I don’t think that’s an issue.

If it’s an App that makes your details available publicly that’s different.

Which is it?

Original poster
Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 06:19

It’s no public access. The bit that annoyed me was that I didn’t know about it and when I asked her she said she had forgotten that she had stored all the clients details on there as she used it years ago and no longer uses it. I understand that they have to store info somewhere but not being told and the fact that she had forgotten just seemed slightly odd to me

OP posts:
Original poster
Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 06:20

Not being informed

OP posts:
Binfluencer · 26/01/2023 06:29

titchy · 25/01/2023 23:22

No. Small businesses should never keep details of their clients ever. She should delete all your contact details from her phone, laptop and any address book she uses. If she needs to contact you she should send up pre-arranges smoke signals.

Plus, she should wear a mask so she never sees your face.

You're being ridiculous OP. Have you nothing else to worry about

Bellalalala · 26/01/2023 06:42

What is it that annoys you?

Why would you feel better if your client information was stored on paper in a diary or on a laptop?

NumberTheory · 26/01/2023 06:48

Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 06:19

It’s no public access. The bit that annoyed me was that I didn’t know about it and when I asked her she said she had forgotten that she had stored all the clients details on there as she used it years ago and no longer uses it. I understand that they have to store info somewhere but not being told and the fact that she had forgotten just seemed slightly odd to me

Forgetting it and leaving the data there is very poor.

UseOfWeapons · 26/01/2023 06:56

TheShellBeach · 25/01/2023 23:25

I thought this was about your dog, whose name is Walker.

Me too!😄

Simonjt · 26/01/2023 06:58

Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 06:20

Not being informed

Did you think she only stored her clients information in her brain? You are aware that vritually every service you use will save your details on a live platform?

watchfulwishes · 26/01/2023 07:04

Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 06:19

It’s no public access. The bit that annoyed me was that I didn’t know about it and when I asked her she said she had forgotten that she had stored all the clients details on there as she used it years ago and no longer uses it. I understand that they have to store info somewhere but not being told and the fact that she had forgotten just seemed slightly odd to me

You should have been informed/asked for consent (depends on circs) and she should have deleted it at the point the business stopped using it. The basic GDPR rules apply to businesses of all sizes and types.

You are getting a lot of snippy/sarky replies but I agree it was poor practice. I would just send an email.asking them to delete this data now. Don't overreact as it is quite a small breach.

watchfulwishes · 26/01/2023 07:06

Simonjt · 26/01/2023 06:58

Did you think she only stored her clients information in her brain? You are aware that vritually every service you use will save your details on a live platform?

Show quote history

Which is fine, if the client is informed. That is basic decent business practice and the legal requirement.

Are you in favour of there being no laws governing data? Or perhaps in favour of businesses not following data laws?

greenacrylicpaint · 26/01/2023 07:14

yanbu
there are many apps, especially american, which have a different take on data processing.
check with her(or look up the app details if you know them) if they are gdpr compliant.

and yes, she should have informed you how she stores your data.

Original poster
Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 07:26

Thank you yes I agree. I have asked for my data to be removed and they said they will look into it. So fingers crossed. Thanks for reply. I probably did initially over react a bit but it was more surprise than anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 07:27

Well obviously not that’s just stupid. It’s basic data protection how would you feel if your personal information was stored on a platform without your knowledge? Where do you draw the line?

OP posts:
titchy · 26/01/2023 08:09

So presumably you have asked your dog Walker where she now stores your details? And have signed that you agree. And you're aware there'll be in the cloud somewhere. Or do you make her just take your details in a notebook and nothing else.

titchy · 26/01/2023 08:11

Dontbeatool · 26/01/2023 07:27

Well obviously not that’s just stupid. It’s basic data protection how would you feel if your personal information was stored on a platform without your knowledge? Where do you draw the line?

Pretty much all of us will have personal data stored by someone on some app or other. It is no concern of mine what system my window cleaner uses for example, as long as they are kept secure. An app is no different to a word document, phone address book or accounting software.