A third investigation has been launched into a major privacy breach involving an Alberta separatist group and the personal information of nearly three million voters.
The issue began after an online database connected to The Centurion Project published names, addresses and electoral districts from Alberta’s voter list. Elections Alberta says 23 people received full copies of the list, while another 545 people accessed it through a searchable website.
The voter list was originally given legally to the Republican Party of Alberta, but officials say it somehow ended up with The Centurion Project without permission. The group said it wanted to use the information to find supporters of Alberta independence ahead of a possible referendum this fall.
Now, Alberta’s privacy commissioner, RCMP and Elections Alberta are all investigating the leak. Elections Alberta has ordered people who accessed the list to stop using it and delete any copies.
The database included the personal information of politicians, judges, journalists and other public figures. The leak has raised serious safety and privacy concerns, especially for people hiding from abusive relationships.
Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi said he is worried the group may still have access to the data even after the website was taken offline by court order.
Premier Danielle Smith has denied knowing about the leak before it became public. The controversy has also led to heated debate in Alberta’s legislature.
RCMP say the investigation is ongoing and are asking the public to be patient as officers look into the alleged misuse of voter information.
