The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is investigating an alleged data breach. It comes after The Sun newspaper published pictures showing ex Health Secretary Matt Hancock embracing an aide in his office.
Last month, leaked CCTV images led to Mr Hancock resigning after admitting he failed to follow social distancing rules.
The ICO has seized computers and other electronic equipment while it conducts its inquiry, following a search at two homes in southern England on Thursday.
Mr Hancock resigned from his role as Health Secretary on 27 June. This was two days after the images of him kissing his long-time friend and former aide Gina Coladangelo emerged. Their relationship is serious, with Mr Hancock leaving his wife of 15 years and their three children. Ms Coladangelo also has three children herself, and a husband.
The Department of Health and Social Care and the security firm submitted a complaint over the use of the CCTV footage. They allege it was taken without permission.
Meanwhile, editor of The Sun, Victoria Newton, says she would rather go to jail than reveal her source. All she says is that the paper received the pictures from an “angry whistleblower”.
Concerns over security
Concerns were raised over security within government buildings following the publication of the images. As a result, some employees have even asked for thorough searching of their own offices to discover if there are any “unauthorised devices”. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland wants to stop chances of a “national security breach”.
But The Sun’s Ms Newton maintains that using the pictures was “a serious piece of responsible journalism” involving a cabinet minister “behaving with extraordinary hypocrisy”.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care says, “we take the security of our personnel, systems and estates extremely seriously”. The department will work with the ICO to cooperate with the investigation.
The director of investigations at the ICO thinks people working at Whitehall need to have confidence over data protection. He says it is “vital that all people, which includes the employees of government departments and members of the public who interact with them, have trust and confidence in the protection of their personal data”.
The ICO now aims to act quickly and effectively to identify any risks where people may unlawfully obtain personal data. The investigation is ongoing, and no further comments are likely until its conclusion.
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