Total violation of privacy

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dreamsofbeingamum Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 13:21

How dare you change usernames to peoples real names/email details. People have usernames because they want to stay anonymous for a number of reasons. I haven't received any correspondence telling me this was going to happen and i know that lots of others haven't either.

You are breaching a lot of privacy laws. An apology and full explanation is the very least you can do to rectify this situation.

Edited: 17/12/2010 at 12:36

Socksxx

16/12/2010 at 13:28

I have just posted exactly the same on the new website thread hun. I am disgusted. Total breach of confidentiality. Saying we can log in and change it bull, if we had not logged in today all our posts would be in our real names. Wreckless and I would have expected more from them.

MrsMafiaPrincess Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 13:35

I have sent a formal complaint explaining this is an entire breach of data protection.

Whatever idiot re-designed this website clearly has a major gap in their knowledge.

Furious given the nature of things we post about on this site deliberately choosing usernames not to identify us.

Yet more evidence that the people who run this website have no clue whatsoever about their users. On the post in baby it's just "sorry for the inconvenience". They couldn't care less and this cruddy website is more important that the people who use it.

tink-a-bell Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 14:16

I am totally mortified by this! Especially as apparently YAYW changed in March so my posts have likely been out there with my name all that time!!! I pray to God no one has seen them! I just want to delete my account please!!!

effinghell Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 14:31

im also fuming, a complete and utter breach of privacy and unbelievably incompetent site management.

i want answers

1. was my username visible to all on google since yayw changed in march?on yayw a few ladies raised this in the website suggestion forum... their posts were not answered by anyone from the site on the forum.

2. my yayw account needs to be closed ( i have requested this in a separate email).

3. will deletion of my account also delete posts i answered which currently pop up on google?

a very frustrated BE user ( not for much longer possibly....

:x )

Edited: 17/12/2010 at 11:00

tink-a-bell Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 14:34

I second all of the above! I want answers and a deleted YAYW account!

xJellytotsx Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 14:46

ditto to the above, i only just found out that my yayw account has had my real name on it since march! I also am irked that I have complained about my name becoming my username in numerous places today, including a direct email to the webmaster, and not once has anyone actually apologised about the mistake, despite them apologising about things like posts not being copied over!!

Parma violet Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 14:57

i agree with all of the above!! I used to be a member of YAYW but had no idea it had changed!!

Does this mean that all my post have been in my real name all this time and no-one bothered to tell me - it's apalling!

Baby_on_Board Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 14:58

I just posted on another thread and totally agree. I didn't even have a YAYW account so it can't be blamed on linking them as I have never even been on that website - they simply removed my user name and used my real name!!! I cannot believe how careless and insensitive they have been. I emailed them and simply got well you can change it in response. No apology. If anything comes out of this mess-up I will be taking legal action as there has been some things on here that I have written that I would not want anyone I know to have seen!

Socksxx

16/12/2010 at 16:56

Well said effinghell, I want answers to those points as well. I will also be looking into legal action if my identity is revealed. I had no notification at all YAYW was changing. Disgusting! I want my YAYW account closed immediately and all links with this site via my ANONOMIOUS user name erased.

XXmummy-of-3XX Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 17:03

I have written to watchdog about this and would encourage other users to do the same- absolutely horrified of the implications of this breach of privacy.

Edited: 07/01/2011 at 07:12

effinghell Platinum member

16/12/2010 at 18:20

just looked at yayw again, there is a message by the web editor from May 2010 (in website suggestions or General Chat sorry can't remember without checking back) warning users that their user names would be used as their screen names during the transiton period for that website. has anyone seen any such message on here?
haven't been on yayw for ages and had i seen that, i would have cancelled my account or changed my username asap.... :evil:

Edited: 17/12/2010 at 11:00

lillyr

16/12/2010 at 19:30

You are right - this is a clear breach of confidentiality. Divulging personal details over the internet without permission (particularly where subject matter is sensitive) is a very serious issue - and one which I believe this idiotic company has failed to recognise. I urge everyone who has been affected to read the 'Privacy Policy' at the bottom of this webpage and contact a lawyer. No-one's personal details should be displayed without their knowledge and / or consent - and this is exactly what has happened. Furthermore, most of us were not notified of the change by email (even though this would not exempt BE from their actions).
I for one am cancelling any contact with BE straightaway. Hopefully everyone else will do the same.
Am shocked by what has happened and sorry to lose valuable contact with many lovely people.

To sum up: this is taken from their policy (link at the bottom of webpage):

"The National Magazine Company Ltd and affiliates are committed to protecting the security of your Personal Data. We use a variety of industry-standard security technologies and procedures to help protect your Personal Data from unauthorised access, use, or disclosure."

What a joke!

Edited: 07/01/2011 at 05:36

Socksxx

17/12/2010 at 04:34

They have breached data protection ladies we can take this further
http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/data_protection.aspx

xJellytotsx Platinum member

17/12/2010 at 04:58

wow I am glad I wasn't making a fuss over nothing, they have well and truly messed up here! Don't think I can afford a lawyer on smp though

None_of_your_beeswax Gold member

17/12/2010 at 05:04

I echo all of the above.... after googling the start of my email address I am HORRIFIED to find that all of my YAYW posts come up, my name on YAYW has been changed to the same name as on BE and I seem to have a few different user names on YAYW all of which were returned by the search. Seriously considering going through every YAYW post and deleting it.

NOT HAPPY AT ALL.

Does anyone know how the hell to delete yourself off one of these sites?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH I changed my name on YAYW to "none of your beeswax and it automatically changes it on here!" I AM SOOOO annoyed. Yes people knew I was getting married but did it occur to anyone at BE Towers that I might want some annonymity re my TTC? :evil:

Edited: 17/12/2010 at 05:05

LadyPandBean Platinum member

17/12/2010 at 05:28

I think what this site has done is disgusting. They also changed my username and it won't let me change it back so now have to use a new one which on-one knows so defeats the object of getting to know anyone. Why did they have to change this site it was fine as it was.

Will be looking for a new site now as this is just unacceptable.

lillyr

17/12/2010 at 05:59

I'm so glad I'm not alone in thinking this is disgusting. I think anyone who has been affected should follow this up. Socks has provided a great link to ICO.gov. I've spoken to a really helpful lady there and she said we should do the following:

1) Send a written letter of complaint, referring to 'Principle 7 of the Data Protection Act' (which they have violated).

2) Go to the 'Complaints' section of the ICO website (on the left hand side of the page) and fill out a data protection complaint form.

3) Email ICO with a copy of the original complaint letter.

4) Contact The National Magazines Company and request that they delete your account and all your posts (if you are worried about your security - which I am!) Also ask them to contact Google, if necessary, and request that details on their sites which reference your name are also deleted.

The ICO will investigate any complaints. It is a long process apparently, but if they are found to be in serious breach action will be taken against them.

With regret, I'm closing down all communications with this site. But I will be logging on to Fertility Friends (same username) and hope to see old 'faces' over there. I hope you all do the same.

For the LTTTCers, all the best with your journeys - may the difficulties we face with IF be as short-lived as possible and may they all have VERY happy endings. Lots of love, Lilly. x

Edited: 07/01/2011 at 05:36

Socksxx

17/12/2010 at 06:06

thank you Lily didn't think of calling them, I think I will get on to it!

CancelledAccount Platinum member

17/12/2010 at 06:11

This is completely unacceptable. Most of the posts on this website have sensitive issues in them, and I for one wouldn't go around sharing that kind of thing without a little discretion. I would rather have a username than my real name please. This website was a valuable source of information and support for me, but it won't be for much longer. I have only just found out that the same stands for my You and Your Wedding account. I am (unfortunately) going to cancel and delete both accounts and lose the information and friendly advice that I used these forums for. Well done Baby expert, you are driving everyone away.

Just went to edit my account and what does it say "Private Information" HA! How about "information that is private until we decide to post it everywhere" ?

Edited: 17/12/2010 at 06:16