Legislative auditor issues report on data abuse by public officials

The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor has issued a lengthy report on statewide abuses of databases containing private data by public officials. The report details the types of databases available, authorized and unauthorized uses, patterns of misuse, recommendations for change, and considerable other information discovered by the authors.

New lawsuit over improper data access

The Star-Tribune reported on February 15 that another lawsuit has been filed for improper data access by a public employee. In this case, it's related to an unnamed Minnesota Department of Human Services employee who accessed data improperly more than 1,100 times. The suit is requesting class-action status and brings to a total nine separate suits that have been filed in the matter.

DNR official charged for massive privacy violations

A former Department of Natural Resources administrative manager who accessed private data more than 19,000 times over five years has been criminally charged with crimes including misconduct of a public employee, unauthorized computer access, unlawful use of data, and using encryption to conceal a crime, according to TwinCities.com.

John Austin Hunt, 48, of Woodbury was Thursday, Feb. 7, in Ramsey County District Court accused in six misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors. Olson reportedly looked up more than 5,000 individuals, more than 90 percent of whom where women including many other public officials and local celebrities. Hunt was a manger in the DNR's enforcement division.