IPCO Annual Report 2018
Error Investigation 20
Telecommunications Operator (TO)
Human or Technical:
Technical
Classification:
Shortfall of Data
Data Acquired:
Subscriber information (email addresses).
Description:
As a result of an incorrect feed into the disclosure system that provides
information from the telecommunications operator in response to
authorisations granted to acquire communication data, negative
returns were provided to police forces when relevant data was in fact
available and should have been supplied.
Consequence:
For those where data was still available (18 out of 21) each police
force was advised and invited to reapply. Just two eventually led to
enforcement action.
Error Investigation 21
Telecommunications Operator (TO)
Human or Technical:
Technical
Classification:
Shortfall Data
Data Acquired:
Cell site activity
Description:
Following a query by a law enforcement agency it was established that
the results of 51 requests to acquire communications data associated
to a specific cellular mast sites had certain data sets missing. The 51
requests related to 17 separate investigations from different police
forces and agencies.
Consequence:
In three cases the missing data had no impact. In four further cases,
where the missing data was subsequently acquired, no negative impact
resulted. In the remaining 10 cases the missing data could not be
acquired as the data retention period had expired and the information
was no longer available. As such the authorities concerned could not
provide an assessment as to whether or not the shortfall affected the
overall outcome of the investigation
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