Online recruitment site
Monster.com could face legal action from 4.5m UK job seekers
afterhackers stole personal detailsfrom
users around the world.
Monster this week admitted that its database had been
compromised and names, passwords, telephone numbers and e-mail
addresses were taken.
According to Susan Hall, partner at law firm
Cobbetts, any UK job seekers who can prove harm from the latest
breach could be entitled to compensation under the terms of the
Data Protection Act.
Users should keep any records they can to prove what costs they
incurred as a result of Monster's failure to protect their personal
data, said Hall.
This could include documents showing costs for transactions that
have had to be reversed or fees that have been charged in
connection with the breach.
"Anyone applying for compensation will need to prove that the
breach at Monster led to the harm that they have suffered," she
said.
Although individuals are entitled to claim compensation, Hall
said a group action was always easier.
Monster could also face an enforcement notice from the
Information Commissioner's Office, which is investigating the
breach, she said
The ICO this week announced it had taken enforcement action
against the
Home Office and
two NHS trusts for failing to protect personal information.