Garda - GDPR breach?

gzoladz

Today during a walk I found a set of house/car/bicycle keys set...I walked to the local Garda station to hand them over there, and in the process I was asked for my full name and phone number. I had no issue giving that to them so I did.

A few hours later I got a text message from the owner of they keys, very thankfull the I handed them over and he/she got them back. That made me happy too.

However...I do feel a bit uncomfortable with that Garda sharing my name and number with a strange person. I was never asked or authorised them to do so...I appreciate the owner of they key wanted to thank me, but the Garda could have contacted me directly to do so, etc...I will not disclose the park or Garda station but I may givem a call to provide some constructive feedback.

SupaCat95

So do you think it is worth a 4 or 5 number pay out is the real question?

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117691842#Comment_117691842

This is the legal forum.

Not the “I’ll have a pop at the OP” forum.

OP. I would say it probably is a breach. However, it’s not clear if they gave them your name as well as your number. If it was just your number, then there is no issue.

There is nothing that could identify you.

The Continental Op

I think the Garda are treating both the OP and the person who lost the keys like real people. I got a nice card with a few quid in it when I handed in a handbag full of some women's life (pages and pages of medical records and personal documents). People like to say thanks and surprise surprise the Garda know that too.

Now if you handed in a stash of drugs you found I doubt the Garda would be handing out your address to anyone.

gzoladz

Thanks Continental, Allinal...the message was addressed at my first name. And I fully appreciate there was good intention from the Garda...as mentioned, I am happy to get the thank you message and that they owner found his/her keys.

The question was if technically there was a breach, what has been answered.

Thanks!

Liam32123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117692622#Comment_117692622

Technically, there was no breach of the GDPR.

Your data where shared under the legal basis of ‘legitimate interest’ (article 6 (f) of GDPR), as the balancing test for a legitimate interest was clearly met, namely: a) you (data subject) should have reasonably expected your data to be used in that way; b) in any case, there was not any particular risk on your privacy stemming from the data sharing.

If such a situation make you feel uncomfortable, next time you can explicitly ask the guards not to share your personal data; in such a case, they will be bound to comply with your request

I was at work once, and someone recorded me on CCTV (fair enough). They got my reg plate (fair enough). They wanted to get in touch with me about what I was working on (fair enough). So their friend in the Gardai gave them my contact number (not fair!).

They had access to my contact details from my reg plate (I'd come across the Gardai a fair bit with work) and decided it'd be okay to hand it over to someone I'd never met or heard of before in my life. A complaint to GSOC went nowhere.

So I'd say you're wasting your time, OP.

gzoladz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117702665#Comment_117702665

Noted Liam, thanks...I don't see why I would have expected my name and number to be shared. Rightly or wrongly (obviously wrongly) I expected the keys to be returned to the owner, and the Garda to use my name and number in case I needed to get contacted by him, but not by an unknown third party.

I now know for next time.