Flash Drive Of City Government Partner Company For COVID-19 Aid Distributed Missing: Contents Biodata, Address To Bank Account

JAKARTA - Population data, including personal account numbers, is sensitive information, which can be misused if it falls into irresponsible hands. The leakage of these data is certainly very dangerous and worrying.

As is happening in this city, when an employee of a city government partner company loses a flash drive containing population data, along with the loss of the bag he was carrying.

The city of Amagasaki in western Japan said on Thursday it had lost a USB flash drive containing the personal information of some 460,000 residents.

The missing data included names, addresses, dates of birth and bank account numbers of welfare recipient households, among others. No evidence of data leaked so far, according to the city in Hyogo Prefecture.

An employee of a company assigned to help launch the city's COVID-19 relief fund lost a bag that had a flash drive in it after eating and drinking at a restaurant on Tuesday, the city said.

The employee reported to the police Wednesday. What's a little reassuring is that sensitive and confidential data is encrypted and protected with a password, according to the city government.

"We will ensure thorough security management when handling electronic data," the city said in a statement, reported Kyodo News June 23.

"We will work to regain the trust of our citizens by raising awareness of the importance of protecting personal information."