Police Release Private Data to World

by Jason Phelan

As many as 800 people, including the anti-terror chief, Assistant Commissioner Nick Kaldas and Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Jenkins were in the database file. Many well known journalists from all the daily metros, television, radio and regional newspapers were in the same file.[although the passwords are only for the police service website, many of us have ‘universal’ passwords] There is no word yet relating to overseas journalists, officials and citizens subscribing to this media service.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jenkins said he had no idea it was available on the internet after being contacted by the Sydney Morning Herald. “I’d like to make some inquiries with our media unit before I make any comment whatsoever”. Five hour later NSW Police issued the following statement.

… The Police Media Unit was informed by its Internet host, that the passwords used by subscribers are visible on the Internet.
“To rectify the problem, Police Media has arranged for all access to the service to be deleted. All subscribers will have to re-register and can do so without a password.
“The Police Media Unit is also advising those who registered using a password, one they would use for other purposes, to change that password immediately.”
As yet the Police Service have not contacted their media release subscribers over either this blatant breach of privacy or the obvious security issues.

The Media and Arts Alliance is the union that represents journalists in this country. Federal Secretary Chris Warren says “We’ll be writing to the police and get an undertaking that they’ll protect the data and take steps to remediate any damage as a result of it,”

“We are obviously concerned. You would’ve thought if anyone was going to protect the security of information of this sort it would be the police force.”
He said journalists should have been notified sooner about their passwords being compromised.