INFORMATION and Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey confirmed on Tuesday that his office is examining the cybersecurity risks and loss of transparency associated with the removal of public access to the BC Government Directory, which provided access to public body and employee contact information.

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s (OIPC) Emerging Information and Privacy Technologies team began looking at the issue when public access to the directory was removed on August 18. The team will evaluate the validity of the security risks and identify how organizations can remain transparent in the circumstances.

“We exist in a rapidly changing digital environment, where threat actors are increasingly targeting key individuals and public servants based on publicly available information. The cybersecurity threats are very real and must be taken seriously. However, completely removing public access to the directory without a functional replacement is a very serious transparency issue, which contributes to an erosion in the public’s trust to our democratic institutions,” said Harvey. “Our public service must have a human face”.

The OIPC will publicly report on findings, including advice or recommendations for provincial government Ministries and other public bodies on how to maximize transparency in the face of a deteriorating cybersecurity threat environment.

“The NDP government has a track record of keeping British Columbians in the dark,” said Jody Toor, Opposition Critic for Government Services. “There are ways to protect privacy and security without shutting down public access altogether. This isn’t about privacy. It’s about making government less transparent and less accountable to the people it serves.”

“When B.C.’s Information and Privacy Commissioner launches an investigation, it is extremely serious. British Columbians deserve answers,” said BC Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. “The NDP government claimed this decision was necessary, but that explanation is now under scrutiny. If the government has nothing to hide, it should restore the directory and let British Columbians see who is making decisions on their behalf.”