Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville updates privacy breach

Children's Aid Society thanks community for overwhelming positive support and understanding

BROCKVILLE, ON, April 25, 2016 /CNW/ - Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville is thanking the community for their support and understanding during the recent privacy breach where the names of 285 clients or former clients were illegally published online.

"We've had some difficult days since a group of people violated the security at our website and illegally published names of clients online. But, we're so grateful that so many of our community partners and supporters have come to our aid with their best wishes and kind words," said Raymond Lemay, Executive Director.

Since the April 18 attack, which remains under police investigation, the Children's Aid Society has taken swift and decisive actions. The Agency has attempted to contact all the people affected, and has committed to notifying all 285 people. "As of this weekend we had reached 194 of the individuals on the list and some are understandably angry, but the great majority has been gracious and understanding," added Lemay. Over the next few days, the agency will be sending out letters to be personally delivered to all 285 persons.

If clients have not been contacted it is because they are not on the list. If clients have questions, they should contact the Agency directly.

"We completely understand the anger and frustration that these people are feeling at having their privacy rights deliberately violated. We feel the same way. It is hard to imagine why the people behind this attack would do such a terrible thing," said Lemay.

The Agency now believes that the illegally published information has been taken down. The Agency website has been taken down and is now being retooled and updated with added security measures. The vast majority of client data stored by the Agency is kept in secure internal systems.

"We're doing everything we can to make sure our systems are safe and secure. Our Agency takes privacy very, very seriously."

The Agency has kept the Ministry of Children and Youth Services informed every step of the way, and has updated local MPPs.

A class action lawsuit has been filed in connection with the privacy breach. Lemay says the Agency respects the legal process, but will not be able to comment publically on the law suit.

"We know that people have questions about what happened. Because of this lawsuit we will have to answer many of the questions through the legal process, and that will take time. We ask the public and the media to be patient and to respect the lawsuit as it goes through the courts."

SOURCE Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville

Image with caption: "Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville (CNW Group/Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160425_C7316_PHOTO_EN_674771.jpg

Raymond Lemay, Executive Director, [email protected], Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds & Grenville, 438 Laurier Blvd Brockville, Ontario K6V 6C5 | 613 498-2100 Ext. 4101| Toll Free 1-855-667-2726