Personal data of 191 EI claimants disclosed
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) received 82 complaints after Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) inadvertently disclosed the personal information of 191 Employment Insurance (EI) claimants. The disclosed information included names, dates of birth, employee identification numbers, and Social Insurance Numbers. HRSDC took immediate steps to retrieve the data, notify affected individuals, and implement preventative measures. The OPC found 79 of the 82 complaints to be well-founded.
- Inadvertent disclosure of personal information
- Adequacy of breach response measures
- Preventing recurrence of similar breaches
79 complaints well-founded, 2 not well-founded, 1 discontinued
The investigation confirmed that HRSDC inadvertently disclosed the personal information of 191 individuals, constituting a contravention of the Privacy Act. However, the department took prompt and satisfactory measures to mitigate the harm and prevent future occurrences.
AI-generated summary for reference only. Always verify against the official decision ↗
HRSDC retrieved the improperly disclosed data, notified affected parties, advised them on identity theft risks, monitored Social Insurance Numbers for fraudulent activity, and reinforced proper procedures to prevent recurrence.
This summary is informational only and not legal advice.