It has happened again. It seems to be getting more and more frequent these days for organisations to lose or mishandle personal data belonging to employees, clients and/or suppliers. Proper security measures and procedures are not instituted or even if they are, these procedures are not complied with in the daily operations of the organisations.

It is a great shame that these companies cannot grasp the simple concept of privacy and its extreme importance. I cannot emphasize how vital the protection of personal data is. How many times must those advocating for privacy and the protection of personal data repeat the recurring problems that the world is facing with regard to such loose dissemination of personal information? Why can people not see the harm it is causing or likely to cause? Do you think it only happens to someone else and it is far-fetched to think it could happen to you?

Toyota Brussels is of no exception. It has joined the ever-growing pool of misfit companies with regard to the manner in which they handle personal data. The personal data of 2000 employees has gone missing. Great confidential information such as name, address, national number, date of birth and the names of partners and children of these 2000 members of staff.

According to spokesperson Etienne Plas, one of its employees took the CD with him and it was claimed to be stolen while using public transport on November 19. 'Of course, the disc should never have left our premises, but the employee was still young and inexperienced. We are taking the whole responsibility upon ourselves as a company, the man has hence not been fired.'

So, the mishap occurred on November 19. But when was this actually discovered by Toyota Brussels seeing that it is only out in the papers today, December 13? In the meantime, what has been happening to these personal data? Toyota Brussels says that the police and insurance companies have reassured the company that the chance of criminal abuse of the data is very small. It is confounding that they minimise the risk of abuse to make things not as bad as they seem. Everyday, personal data up for grabs are used by criminals for their benefit in every possible way - ranging from identity theft to kidnapping.

It is always the same sad story with these companies in Belgium. Never realising the risk, never understanding the consequences of failing to protect privacy. When such things happen in other EU member states such as the UK, the risk is not downplayed. It is emphasized repeatedly because the worst is possible. Yes, just take a look at one example from the UK's recent data loss which put 25 million people at risk of identity theft. At least they admit there is such a risk.

Toyota finds that the fact that the data is now up for grabs in the streets is very regrettable and apologises. But do you know what is truly regrettable Toyota? That you did not establish proper security measures and made sure they were followed through in the first place.