Impact of the loss of control for data breach victims

In the wake of a data breach, victims can experience significant stress and anxiety due to the knowledge that their information is no longer safe. The impact of the loss of control of personal information can be very severe for some, contributing to a huge loss of trust in third-party data controllers. Fortunately, this is a factor that can be considered in data breach compensation claims.

Following the Virgin Media data breach, many victims have been emotionally affected by their inability to regain control over their personal data, which we say was caused by the company’s negligence. When we disclose personal information, we expect the data controller to protect it in our stead, but Virgin Media failed in this duty.

It is for this reason that victims of the Virgin Media data breach can be eligible to make compensation claims. If you have been notified of your involvement, you may be eligible to join our group action today via our simple sign-up form.

The GDPR: impact of the loss of control of your information

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out the terms all data controllers must abide by in order to protect personal data. It also outlines what a victim’s rights can be when a data breach does occur. Victims can be eligible to claim compensation for both “material” and “non-material” damages that they have suffered as a result of a breach of data protection law.

Non-material damage can encompass all the consequences of a data breach that can affect a victim emotionally or psychologically. It is in distress claims that the impact of the loss of control of personal information can be considered. The law, therefore, values the mental toll of a data breach as equal to the potential financial blows, which is why victims can claim for this element.

Loss of control of personal information and the Virgin Media data breach

The Virgin Media data breach affected approximately 900,000 people, mainly UK consumers, whose email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses were exposed by the failure to secure a database. The data exposure opened up the victims to potential data misuse, as well as the stress that can come with risk and threats.

With the prospect of information misuse hanging over them, data breach victims can feel helpless and desperate, as there may be no way of stopping criminals who may seek to use their data for malicious purposes. The impact of the loss of control of personal information can cause victims to become overly anxious about disclosing information in the future, as the dangers of the data crime landscape have now been revealed to them.

Taking control by making a data breach claim

It can be very hard to ground yourself in the aftermath of a data breach, but making a claim can allow you to reduce the impact of the loss of control by taking matters into your own hands. If you were notified of your involvement in the Virgin Media data breach, you can join our group action today to begin your claim.

Your Lawyers is a leading, expert consumer action law firm specialising in data breach claims and group actions. We currently sit on the Steering Committee for the British Airways data breach action, which is the first GDPR Group Litigation Order in England in Wales. Our experience in holding huge companies to account gives us the confidence to offer No Win, No Fee representation to all eligible Virgin Media claimants.

Start your Virgin Media data breach compensation claim here today.

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