Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Annual Report 2019
Error Investigation 10
Telecommunications Operator (TO)
Human or Technical:
Technical
Classification:
Incorrect Data
Data Acquired:
Subscriber information relating to an Internet Protocol Address
Resolution (IPAR). Subscriber information for an email address.
Description:
A public authority received a National Centre for Missing and Exploited
Children (NCMEC)68 report which identified that a social media account
had been used to upload indecent images of children (IIOC). The report
provided details of a UK IP used to upload the indecent images and an
associated email address for the social media account.
The IP was quickly resolved, but there were delays in the TO providing
subscriber details for the email address. Given TO delays, the Police
took action based solely on the IPAR. At this point, officers seized one
internet-enabled device but did not make an arrest.
Four weeks later, details for the subscriber of the email address were
returned and it was not the same individual. The Police contacted the
subscriber of the email address and confirmed that there was no link
with the user of the IPAR.
Our investigation found no error on the part of the public authority.
Unfortunately, enquiries with NCMEC and the provider of the email
address has failed to establish exactly why the IP or the email address
became linked to the crime.
Consequence:
Property was seized from an individual unrelated to the investigation.
Under Section 231 (9) the IPC is only able to make a determination if
the relevant error is made by a public authority. In this case no error
was made by the public authority.
68 The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children is a private, non-profit corporation whose mission is
to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimisation.
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