UK politicians' details revealed in gaffe

The personal details of senior British ministers and others were accidentally made available to the public ahead of the Conservative Party's annual conference.

Personal details of senior British cabinet ministers, including their private mobile phone numbers, were made available to the public by a security breach in an app for the Conservative Party's annual conference.

Several ministers, including those in roles with top-ranking security clearance, were reported to have received nuisance calls from members of the public after Saturday's breach.

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson was among those to have their accounts on the app accessed after it was revealed their profiles could be entered just with the email used to register them.

Several Twitter users reported accessing Johnson's profile before some posted pornography for his profile picture and entered profanity for his job title.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove's account was apparently accessed and his profile picture changed to that of Rupert Murdoch, his employer when he was a journalist.

As well as ministers and MPs, the accounts of journalists, lobbyists and other delegates to the conference - which begins in Birmingham on Sunday - could be accessed.

Once logged in, users were able to access information and apparently leave messages on the internal messaging system.

The app, created by an Australian firm called Crown Comms, was updated and the login function removed after concerns were raised with the party.

A Conservative Party spokesman said the technical issue had been resolved and the app was functioning securely.

"We are investigating the issue further and apologise for any concern caused," he said.


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2 min read
Published 30 September 2018 6:50am
Source: AAP


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