A proposed class-action lawsuit has been launched in Alberta, alleging that the personal information of approximately 2.9 million voters was exposed in a significant privacy breach. The suit, filed in the Court of King's Bench in Edmonton, names the Alberta government, its chief electoral officer, the Centurion Project Ltd., and the Republican Party of Alberta as defendants.
The lawsuit claims that Alberta's official list of electors was unlawfully accessed and distributed for purposes outside the scope of the province's Elections Act. This breach has allegedly exposed millions of Albertans to risks including loss of privacy, identity theft, misuse of personal information, and significant distress. The statement of claim asserts that this incident violates Albertans' Charter-protected rights to privacy and security.
The situation came to light when Elections Alberta discovered that the Centurion Project, a separatist group, had obtained a copy of the voter list. While the Republican Party of Alberta was legally permitted to possess the list, it is alleged to have shared it with unauthorized entities like the Centurion Project, failing to safeguard the information. Elections officials have stated that the website hosting the database was taken down, but not before thousands may have viewed it.
The allegations in the lawsuit have not yet been tested or proven in court, and a judge must certify the class action before it can proceed. This development underscores growing concerns about data privacy and the security of personal information in Canada, particularly in the context of political data handling. The RCMP, Elections Alberta, and the provincial privacy watchdog are reportedly investigating the matter.
