Email from Victorian court exposes email addresses of hundreds of victims of crime

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Hundreds of people - including victims of crime - have had their personal emails exposed in a privacy blunder by the Victorian courts. The agency responsible has apologised for breach - but some victims' lawyers say that's not enough.

Transcript

00:00One email, almost 500 recipients. It's understood some may be victims of crime.

00:09All entrusted their details to Victoria's Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal.

00:14Last week, those details were exposed.

00:17It's a horrific breach of privacy. It's just breathtaking.

00:23The breach was sparked by an email sent by the tribunal on Thursday,

00:27detailing changes to the way victims of crime can claim compensation.

00:32Instead of a blind CC, every email was visible to every recipient.

00:37480 addresses, some first and last names.

00:42The tribunal recalled it twice, but it was too late.

00:46How is your client feeling?

00:48He's very frightened.

00:50Rachel Story has advised her clients to change their email addresses,

00:54but many have already received unwelcome messages.

00:57The tribunal will have to engage someone to independently review what's happened here,

01:01given the size and the scope.

01:03Court Services Victoria told the ABC,

01:05while the email didn't contain any sensitive information,

01:09the tribunal apologised unreservedly for the error.

01:13We'll look at measures to ensure it does not happen again,

01:16and is offering support to those affected.

01:19The breach has led to calls for the government to tighten security across the justice system,

01:24and to boost funding for victim support services.

01:29The government needs to pick up its act regarding protecting people who come before the courts,

01:35expecting justice, expecting safety and privacy.

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