To think Royal Mail staff shouldn't post people's names on Facebook group?

[User5274959]

I know this is a bit of a non issue, but interested in the opinions of others.

Member of staff from the local Royal Mail sorting office posts regularly on the local town Facebook group along the lines of:

"Private message me if you can help get these packets and parcels to people"

Then lists full names and sometimes streets.

I know she's trying to be helpful, but am I right in thinking it's a data breach?

What if someone is trying to keep their location totally private?

I'm not going to say or do anything, just wondered if anyone else thinks this is a bit off. Even though I'm sure those people are glad to have their parcels reunited with them.

The data isn’t correct though, if it was, they would have delivered thier parcels.

Post/questions like this are a stark reminder of how far we've moved away from living in friendly communities. The act of a helpful postie trying to find the correct addresses for people to get them their parcels gets flagged as a potential "data breach".

Maybe I'm just in a cynical mood today but God I effing hate the society we live in these days, the red tape, the rules, the regulations, questioning things like this.

Names and address of people could be found very easily if people wanted to find them. As previous poster said, the addresses must be old or not correct for her to ask this question.

Our local parcel shop does this...'we have a parcel for Mary Smith at xxx road' in all the Facebook groups. I know it's done with good intentions but yeah, I don't think it's great for security and safety reasons.

Eh, how is it a data breach?

If someone wants their address kept totally private, then they'd be having their mail sent to a collection point/PO Box.

If the info is wrong (which it would be, otherwise they'd just deliver them), how can it be a data breach? 😳

Surely, if there were any kind of data breach, it would be the people sharing the correct name and address with the Postie? And even then it's in a PM and it may come from the people sans parcel themselves.

Though if you're hot on data breaches, you may want to join Gloucestershire Police right now, they've got an ishoo that isn't going to go away anytime soon....

I don't think you even understand what a data breach is.

I don't understand molecular science so I try my best not to pass comment on it.

the internet = olden days of talking in person only difference is much faster online

Well...personal data is meant to be on a need to know basis

That person only had the customer's name and partial address/rough area/street, because of their work, they are then using a personal account to share it with around 10,000 users on a group.

I don't know - I wasn't sure, hence posting. Maybe we are all too paranoid about data stuff now.

But what about someone escaping an abusive partner or family member who could then see that (or someone they know see that) and now have confirmation that person lives in that area/street?

I know it's done with good intention,
I also know I wouldn't like seeing my name published but can't give a rational reason why!

Slightly off topic but it irritates me when my name and surname are announced at the GP's over a tannoy and screen!!!! Why? It is not about being paranoid (but it is a fact that not everyone has good intentions). Just give me a ticket with a number like the deli counter back in the day.

If someone escaping an abusive relationship still lives so close to their ex partner that they'd see this group... they probably have a fair idea where they live anyway and, as previously pointed out...

These are incorrect address/name combinations. These people do not live at these addresses as if they did, their mail would have reached them, could be stuck back in a post box/handed to a post-person.

If someone has a VERY distinctive name and really really does not want to be found, they use a PO Box/mail service so that their actual address has no link to their name.

What amuses me is the way I'll be queuing at the chemist etc and they're asking for the customers name address and phone number clearly enough for anyone else to hear

Yeah that isn't right. I would screenshot some of the posts and report to Royal Mail. At the very least she will likely be breaching their social media policy.

I actually do think this is a data breach, or certainly a potential one. It would be a huge data breach if I posted names and addresses of service users on a public Facebook page.

I think the assumption here is that it isn’t because the name doesn’t match the address. Firstly, we don’t know that and nor does Royal Mail. It very well could be completely accurate and the postie just can’t find it (because 3B is very hidden behind 3A). Or it could be no attempted delivery was even made. Or it could be it was delivered to the wrong house, returned and now they “can’t find the addressee” not because it’s wrong, but because they gave it to no. 5 and they said not us, but it should have gone to no. 8, as addressed.

Even if an organisation posts the name and previous address of a customer because they’ve moved but no one knows that, I would consider that a data breach. I would certainly get in trouble for that. It could certainly put someone at risk of harm in certain situations, even though wouldn’t have any impact on most people.