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Companies have a responsibility to protect the personal data they hold about staff and customers for financial and social reasons, a campaigning organisation claims.

The Open Rights Group warns that while identity fraud and other financial penalties resulting from data loss are well known, it could also significantly affect those who are fleeing abusive relationships or are on witness protection schemes.

Becky Hogge, an executive director of Open Rights Group, explains personal data has a value and companies should do their best to protect it.

'Think of it a bit like the company bank account - you wouldn't give every employee access to it without clear accountability, security and authorisation processes in place,' she explains.

Hogge advises businesses to focus on data minimisation, employee training and encryption to ensure the safety of personal data.

In August, it was revealed that management consultancy PA Consulting, working on behalf of the government, lost a memory stick containing the personal information of tens of thousands of criminals.

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