Labour apologises over data breach

The Labour Party has apologised to donors, after a right-wing blogger said he would release their personal details following what the party called a malicious breach of its website.

In an email sent to donors yesterday, party secretary Chris Flatt said an investigation was launched after the discovery of a possible breach of the online donation system.

Details taken included names, email addresses, and amounts of dona­tions and mem­ber­ship fees.

Mr Flatt said the system had been secured to ensure a breach could not recur, and there would be an inde­pen­dent secu­rity review.

Blogger Cameron Slater said he had the data and had done nothing illegal to obtain it.

He said the Labour Party had raised $11,831.50 online, and he would release names of donors this afternoon.

He also published on his blog an email purportedly from Mr Flatt, urging Mr Slater not to release personal details online, citing a potential breach of the Privacy Act.

Labour Party officials did not immediately return NZPA's calls for comment.

Political commentator Matthew Hooten said on Radio New Zealand that there should be a police investigation to see whether there had been any breach of the law.

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