Betting firms given access to info on 28 million children in U.K. gov’t education database

guest · Jan 20, 2020

Betting firms given access to info on 28M minors in U.K. gov’t education database
January 20, 2020
https://www.scmagazine.com/home/sec...on-28m-minors-in-u-k-govt-education-database/

Betting firms have used information from a U.K. government-run educational database containing the records of 28 million children to bump up the number of youth who gamble online.

The companies gained access to Learning Records Service database – which falls under the umbrellas of the U.K. Department of Education – through GB Group, which had gained access through third-party Trustopia.
Training firm Trustopia reportedly had broken its agreement with the U.K. government, according to a report in the Sunday Times.

GB Group’s gambling customers then used access to the database to quickly verify ages and identities.
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“This is perhaps the largest government data breach and will have far-reaching consequences for many years to come [...]
“This is not just a security breach, but a breach of trust, where there is an expectation of fair, lawful and transparent uses of the data by everyone who has access to it – which in this case has not happened,” said Malik.
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Revealed: Betting firms were granted access to database of 28 MILLION children and used it to boost number of young gamblers by up to 15% in one of Britain's biggest ever data breaches

According to a report, one gambling firm was able to increase the number of young people passing its identity checks by 15 per cent, just by using the database.

It is believed to be one of the biggest breaches of government data ever and the Department of Education, led by Gavin Williamson, has pledged to investigate and leave 'no stone unturned'.
The database gave these gambling firms a fast and cost effective way of verifying the ages of young online customers claiming to be 18 or over.
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guest · Jan 24, 2020

Data breach firm given access despite DfE probe (DfE = Department of Education)
January 24, 2020
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/data-breach-firm-given-access-despite-dfe-probe/

Unions are now demanding an independent investigation over how the Department for Education gave the firm, which offers screening checks, access to the Learning Records Service database.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency launched an investigation this week after the Sunday Times found the LRS had been accessed by data intelligence firm GB Group – whose clients include 32Red and Betfair among other gambling companies.
But an investigation by sister paper FE Week has found that not only is the firm not registered as a provider – it’s co-founder Ronan Smith was subject to a government investigation in 2017.
Urgent probe needed to check DfE criteria
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “There needs to be an urgent investigation looking at the criteria the DfE uses to grant access to the data and the identities of organisations which already have access.

“Given the hugely sensitive nature of this data it is also vital that there are rigorous checks on any organisations which are granted access.”
Privacy rules state that a young person’s personal information should only be accessed through the LRS by organisations “specifically linked to their education and training”.
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guest · Nov 9, 2022

ICO: Department for Education Should Have Been Fined £10m
Phil Muncaster UK / EMEA News Reporter, Infosecurity Magazine - November 7, 2022

The UK’s Department for Education (DfE) has narrowly avoided a multimillion-pound fine after being found responsible for critical data protection failings, according to the country’s regulator.
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The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has formally reprimanded the department after due diligence failings related to the learning records service database (LRS), which provides a record of pupil’s qualifications for education providers to access.
The LRS, which contains data on 28 million pupils from the age of 14, was used by Trust Systems Software UK (trading as Trustopia).

Although it claimed to be the new trading name for training provider Edududes, Trustopia is actually a screening firm that sells its services to gambling companies, among other clients. They used the database to check whether people opening online gambling accounts were 18, according to the ICO.

“No-one needs persuading that a database of pupils’ learning records being used to help gambling companies is unacceptable,” said information commissioner, John Edwards.
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ICO: Department for Education warned after gambling companies benefit from learning records database

November 6, 2022
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a reprimand to the Department for Education (DfE) following the prolonged misuse of the personal information of up to 28 million children.
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Betting firms given access to info on 28 million children in U.K. gov’t education database

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