Ethical Hacking News
Two suspected New IRA members have been arrested and charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 after being found in possession of spreadsheets containing details of PSNI staff. The arrest is linked to a 2023 data breach that exposed nearly 10,000 staff members' personal information online.
The two arrested men, Brian Francis Cavlan and Rory Martin Logan, were charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 for possessing spreadsheets with PSNI staff personal details. The data breach occurred when nearly 10,000 staff members' personal info was mistakenly published online as part of a Freedom of Information request in August 2023. The investigation led to two PSNI officers being bailed in a separate fraud case, but the latest arrest takes a darker turn. The court heard that Cavlan had screenshots stored on his phone linking him to the men, and it's unlikely he downloaded the data directly from the source. A third man was released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service, while Cavlan and Logan face charges related to possessing sensitive information. The incident highlights complexities in data protection in Northern Ireland due to concerns about national identity and control. The data breach caused significant stress on officers' mental well-being, resulting in over 50 sickness absences and forcing some to relocate due to safety concerns.
In a shocking development, two individuals have been arrested and charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 for allegedly possessing spreadsheets containing personal details of staff from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which were mistakenly published online as part of a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.
The PSNI had previously disclosed nearly 10,000 staff members' personal information, including real names and ranks, in an August 2023 FoI document that was made publicly accessible online. The data breach caused significant concern for the officers involved, with many reporting mental health issues and some even relocating due to safety concerns.
The investigation into the data breach led to two PSNI officers being bailed as part of a separate fraud investigation related to the universal compensation offer made to each affected individual. However, this latest development takes a darker turn, as the suspected New IRA members, Brian Francis Cavlan and Rory Martin Logan, were found in possession of the spreadsheet data.
Logan was charged with possessing the spreadsheets, while Cavlan faced charges for breaching the Terrorism Act 2000. The court heard that Cavlan had screenshots of specific parts of the spreadsheet stored on his phone, which could link him to both men.
According to a PSNI officer speaking at the hearing, it is unlikely that the data was downloaded directly from the source, as it appears to have been shared "a considerable amount of times" before coming into the pair's possession. This has raised questions about how the sensitive information was distributed and who might be responsible for the breach.
A third man, aged 44, was released from police custody pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service. The next court date for Cavlan and Logan is set for February 25 at Omagh Magistrates' Court, where they will face charges related to the possession of sensitive information.
The incident highlights the complexities surrounding data protection in Northern Ireland, where concerns about national identity and control have led to a culture of secrecy among police officers. Many have reported avoiding disclosure of their profession due to fear of being targeted by factions opposed to the UK's presence in the region.
As part of an official review published in December 2023, it was revealed that the data breach caused significant stress on officers' mental well-being and resulted in over 50 sickness absences specifically citing the data protection gaffe. An undisclosed number of officers also relocated due to safety concerns, highlighting the impact of this incident on those affected.
The arrest of Cavlan and Logan marks a new chapter in an ongoing investigation into the data breach, which has significant implications for national security and public trust in law enforcement agencies.
Related Information:
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/02/14/two_charged_psni_data/
Published: Fri Feb 14 06:31:19 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
