Defence facing privacy probe after ADF veteran says personal data was accessed to 'shut me up'
The Defence Department could be hauled before a judge after a vulnerability in its online database left the data of thousands of former servicepeople at risk of being exposed.
The privacy regulator is investigating the Defence Department over a vulnerability in its online database following a complaint from an Army veteran, who claims his details were exposed after he publicly discussed alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
Capital Brief has confirmed the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is investigating Defence over a "number of complaints" over its handling of the private data of former service people.
Defence’s Personnel Management Keys System (PMKeyS) is an online portal holding the private information of more than 10,000 current and former servicepeople, including their service history, birthdate, names of family members, contact details, and employment. Unlawfully accessing it is a criminal offence, with Defence saying users must not disclose any individual's information to a third-party.
But in May last year, Defence officials revealed they cannot track who accesses the system unless a person alters data on it, meaning someone who only views the information is untraceable.
