Class action lawsuit filed over Alberta voter privacy breach
Nearly 3 million Albertans' names and addresses were exposed after elections officials failed to protect voter data.
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A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed against the Alberta government, Elections Alberta, and the Republican Party of Alberta following a data breach affecting nearly 3 million voters.
The statement of claim, filed last week, alleges the parties failed to protect sensitive voter information after names and addresses of 2.9 million registered Alberta voters were accessed and published by a separatist group earlier this year. The lawsuit also names David Parker, leader of the separatist group involved, alleging he should have known his access to the province's official voter list would put Albertans at risk.
The breach was traced to the Republican Party of Alberta, which was legally permitted to hold the voter list but not share it with unauthorized groups, including the separatist organization. Elections officials removed the website and traced the source to the party.
The allegations remain untested in court. A judge must certify the proposed class action before it can proceed. The provincial government, Elections Alberta, the Republican Party of Alberta, and Parker's legal representative have not responded to requests for comment.
The leak is also under investigation by the RCMP, Elections Alberta, and the provincial privacy watchdog.
