Tory MP James Bezan seeks inquiry into data leak of Freedom Convoy

Conservative MP James Bezan has written to Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien asking for a probe into the breach of data of those who participated in or financially supported the recent “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa. The information came from a hacking exercise which targeted crowdfunding sites that backed the protestors. “It was then taken and shared on other platforms such as Google Maps and it was a major breach of privacy and personal data that is rarely seen at this level where you have individuals’ personal addresses appearing on maps, often accompanied with pictures, personal information as to passport details, drivers’ licences and credit card information. This could easily lead to identity theft” the MP told the Wire Report in a telephone interview from his office in Selkirk, Manitoba. The use of the data is likely a violation of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Bezan said. He is particularly stressed that the federal government made use of the material. “The government also tabled documents in Parliament which reference the illegally hacked personal information in their explanation of subsection 58(1) of the Emergencies Act,” the Mar. 9 letter to Therrien stated. The stolen data was also used by the RCMP, by financial institutions, on social media and by the mainstream media to harass convoy supporters, Bezan said to the Wire Report. He told the Privacy Commissioner the breach was especially egregious. “While it’s important that those who were charged for any illicit activities are held to account through a fair and just process, it is equally important that the privacy rights of all Canadians are respected,” the letter said. “The data of tens of thousands of Canadians being illegally obtained and widely circulated without their consent is a blatant breach of privacy that I believe requires your immediate attention.” The missive referenced Therrien’s testimony before the House of Commons Ethics Committee last month at which, Bezan wrote, “you noted the legitimate concerns of many Canadians, ‘particularly when their personal information is used, without their knowledge, for purposes other than those they expected.’ In this instance it is obvious that the personal information of tens of thousands of Canadians has been hacked and made publicly available for nefarious purposes.” In his interview with the Wire Report, Bezan was critical of the hackers. “It was blatant, it was done not only to put pressure on those who donated but it turned into harassment of those individuals and from that, there are potential other criminalities,” he said. His letter to the Privacy Commissioner mentioned that some who had their data stolen had been subjected to doxxing campaigns on social media, news stories in national and international media and targeted harassment campaigns. –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirerport.ca

Tory MP James Bezan seeks inquiry into data leak of Freedom Convoy

News | March 10, 2022

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