There is something rather worrying about corporations releasing customers’ personal details online, either due to cock-up or conspiracy.
But it is only rather worrying until what’s being bandied about in cyberspace are your bank details or your Ashley Madison account activity – at which point it becomes appalling and dangerous and unacceptable.
Marks and Spencer is the latest high street giant to be hit by a technical hitch, which let strangers nosey round each other’s virtual shopping baskets.
M&S had to temporarily suspend their website when customers could see other shoppers' baskets online. Photo: ALAMY
No harm done, eh? Well, maybe not in this instance but, as expert industry commentators keep telling us, loss of privacy is the risk you take when you shop, browse or subscribe to anything online – ie, live in the Western World in the 21st century.
I’m slightly inured to it, because when I moved to London 18 years ago and registered to vote, my first name was erroneously entered on the electoral register as Juditu.
Yes, I know – it looks mighty strange to me, too. But given the multicultural nature of my borough, it could well be an actual name, so nobody thought to double check.
The details of millions of people have been dumped on the dark web
Then emails started arriving addressing me as Juditu – instant loan companies, obscure credit card offers, PPI misselling notifications.
I eventually got round to changing the spelling, but years on, I’m still getting email shots from an organic vegetable box scheme, shopping voucher sites and equity release promotions.
Were my details sold on, or is it routine for data companies to scan the electoral register?
I have no idea – but what I can say is that this little spelling error is an unnerving daily reminder that privacy is an elastic concept in this day and age.
