Data Breach Exposes Vulnerable Children in Cardiff
A recent data breach in Cardiff has led to the compromise of vulnerable children’s details, causing concern among council officials and residents alike. The breach, which affected Data Cymru, a Welsh local government organisation, resulted in the exposure of information on children under the care of the council.
During a meeting of Cardiff Council’s governance and audit committee on March 25, a council official disclosed the data breach to committee members. According to reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Deborah Driffield, the director of children’s services at Cardiff Council, addressed the breach while providing an update on risk management. She highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, “[There are] some issues around cyber security. We have had a data breach that we are currently managing and drawing up, I think new arrangements in relation to this world of people stealing data and sharing it on the dark web and trying to understand how we can mitigate against that.”
The breach was further elaborated in a council document titled ‘Directorate Escalated Risk Register Quarter 3 2024/25’, which flagged a cyber security failure under the children’s services directorate. The document underscored the potential safeguarding risk to children resulting from a data breach, which was escalated in January 2025. It outlined that efforts were underway, including collaboration with the national cyber security team, conducting risk assessments, and formulating an action plan.
Queries sent to Data Cymru regarding the nature of the compromised data, the timeframe of the breach, and the steps taken to address it, have remained unanswered. Similarly, Cardiff Council was approached for comment on the matter but has yet to respond.
Data Cymru, known for assisting councils and partners in data collection and benchmarking activities, serves as a crucial player in supporting local authority services. Their website states, “We provide support across the majority of services operating in local authorities.” However, the recent breach has raised concerns about the security and privacy of sensitive information, especially concerning the welfare of vulnerable children.
The breach serves as a stark reminder of the growing challenges posed by cyber threats and the critical importance of robust data protection measures, particularly when handling sensitive information related to vulnerable individuals. The incident underscores the need for continuous vigilance and proactive steps to enhance cyber security practices across public sector bodies and organisations entrusted with safeguarding sensitive data.
As investigations and remedial actions proceed, stakeholders are urged to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing data security vulnerabilities to prevent similar breaches in the future. The incident highlights the imperative of prioritising data protection and privacy measures to safeguard the welfare and confidentiality of individuals, especially vulnerable children under the care of local authorities.
The breach in Cardiff serves as a stark wake-up call for intensified efforts in fortifying cyber security frameworks and implementing rigorous data protection protocols to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. Only through collaborative efforts and ongoing vigilance can organisations effectively combat cyber threats and uphold the utmost security and privacy standards when handling confidential data, particularly data concerning vulnerable individuals such as children under council care.