ISPs and the Data Protection Act

[FGS51]

Hi,
I'm not teccie minded therefore can anyone tell me if I'm correct in the following asumption:

If the 'owner' of an internet forum/messageboard posts a user's ISP number on that forum in full view of the world wide web, then is that contravening the terms of the Data Protection Act.? (UK)

If so can someone give me a link to the relevant clause in that act please?

Thank You!

[rojash]

Not clear what you mean by ISP number. Do you mean IP address? (ISP is Internet Service Provider - as in BT or Virgin, IP address is Internet Protocol address and is the means that the internet uses to identify your machine ).

Your IP address is hardly a secret; if you visit any e-commerce site these days, you will see it displayed to warn you "we know where you are!". It is recorded as a safeguard against fraud.

If you visit this site, you will see that the info is readily available:
http://whatsmyip.org/

[FGS51]

Hi

Thanks, indeed what I meant was the IP number. I know little about these things

I had no idea hat the number was visible on some sites.

I was concerned that a member of a charity I volunteer for may have had ther confidentiality breached by the forum owner posting the IP number - not so then I guess?

Will take a look at the link you provided - thanks