Privacy Breach at the Motor Registration Division as announced by Service NL on December 15, 2011

Information and Privacy Commissioner Ed Ring wishes to advise any members of the public who are contacted by Service NL in relation to the privacy breach at the Motor Registration Division that they have a right to file a complaint with his office.

Commissioner Ring also wanted to issue a clarification on the subject of this privacy breach: “Subsequent to the government news release that went out late last Thursday, at least one media outlet appeared to be under the impression that my office was already engaged in an investigation of this breach. That is not the case, and we had no knowledge of the breach until the day of the news release. I want any individuals who have been affected by this breach to understand that we are prepared to investigate their complaints. They should not be dissuaded from coming forward based on any misunderstanding that an investigation by my office is already under way or that their particular complaint is not important. I do understand that Service NL is conducting its own internal investigation of this matter, and whether or not we receive any complaints from individuals, we look forward to hearing from the department when they have concluded their own analysis.”

Individuals wishing to file a privacy complaint may do so by first contacting the commissioner’s office at 729-6309 or toll-free at 1-888-729-6309. More information about the role and mandate of the commissioner’s office may be found at www.oipc.nl.ca. 

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Media contact:
Ed Ring
Information and Privacy Commissioner
709-729-6309

2011 12 19             1:25 p.m.