World Adoption Day is a time to celebrate the creation of families and the transformative impact of adoption. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the shared responsibility we all have to protect the privacy and security of those involved in the adoption process.
In recent years, a number of serious data breaches have exposed how vulnerable adoption records can be. These incidents often involve highly personal information: details about adoptees, adoptive families, and birth relatives, that was meant to remain confidential. For those affected, the consequences can be life changing.
Why adoption data requires the highest level of care
Adoption records often contain deeply personal information, including names and addresses, medical and social histories, and the circumstances of a child’s early life. The sensitivity of this information cannot be overstated.
When adoption data is mishandled, whether by a local authority, adoption agency, or another organisation, the emotional impact can be profound. Breaches don’t just expose personal information; they can jeopardise safety, retraumatise families, and undermine the sense of security that adoption is meant to provide.
What recent cases have shown
The work of Enable Law’s data breach team and Gary Walker highlights just how serious adoption data breaches can be.
In a recent case, a local authority sent a hospital discharge letter to a birth family, revealing the adoptive family’s names and address. Due to the risk posed by the birth family the adoption family had to move home, a case that later settled for more than £200,000.
In another case, an adoption document containing identifying details was emailed to the wrong recipient during the court process. The adoptive family again had to relocate, with the local authority accepting responsibility for the error and Gary was able to recover damages to allow the adoptive family to take the steps necessary to keep their family safe.
These examples serve as stark reminders that even small administrative mistakes can have devastating effects when dealing with adoption data.
The legal and ethical duty to protect adoption information
Under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, organisations handling adoption data must apply strict security measures. Beyond the legal obligation, however, lies an ethical one: the need to protect people’s identities and emotional wellbeing.
Gary has built a track record of supporting adoptive families whose information has been wrongly disclosed. Families affected by such breaches have not only experienced financial loss but also deep emotional distress, often feeling that their privacy and safety have been permanently compromised.
When personal information from adoption records is disclosed, the harm cannot be undone. Prevention, through robust data protection practices, comprehensive staff training, and secure information handling, is therefore absolutely essential.
Building awareness on Adoption Day
Adoption Day should be a celebration of love, stability, and new beginnings. But it can also be a moment raise awareness of how sensitive adoption information is, and how easily trust can be broken when data protection fails.
Families who choose to adopt already navigate complex emotional and practical challenges. They should not have to face additional trauma caused by data mishandling. Every agency, local authority, and professional involved in adoption has a role to play in ensuring that the privacy of adoptive and birth families is respected and safeguarded.
Moving forward
The lessons from recent adoption data breach cases are clear: even unintentional mistakes can have lasting and serious consequences. Stronger systems, better staff training, and consistent accountability are key to preventing future incidents.
On World Adoption Day, as we honour the courage and compassion that define adoption, it’s important to remember that protecting the confidentiality of adoption records is just as vital as the process itself. Behind every file, form, or document is a real family, and their trust must never be taken for granted.
Adoption proceedings often involve very sensitive information that when disclosed to the birth family can be incredibly worrying for the adoptive family. If you find yourself in a situation where you have been the victim of an adoption data breach, we can help you. It is important that you get the support you need quickly to get your family in safety. To have a free, confidential discussion with a member of our team call us today on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form.
