T 2.96 Outdated or incorrect information on a website

The accuracy and up-to-dateness of the information that an organisation publishes on a website does not just influence the success of the website itself. If incorrect information is published on the web, then the public reputation of the organisation may be damaged.

In some cases, there is a risk of financial loss or legal consequences (for example cease-and-desist letters) if incorrect information is published. The consequences can be even worse if internal (confidential or even secret) information which should not be published at all gets on to the web server by mistake.

Even if particular information on the web server is outdated, this can have negative effects. If, for example, out-of-date contact information is published, this can result in disruption of the business processes concerned.

Example:

• In 2002, reporters found a file containing the quarterly report of a Swedish company on its web server which should only have been published a few days later. Amongst other things, this led to a temporary fall in the share price of the company.