Residents of Taft were shocked to discover that a municipal court report published on the city's website exposed confidential personal information of at least 34 individuals, including their full names, driver's license numbers, and in some cases, Social Security numbers.
The sensitive data was inadvertently included in the city council agenda packet for Tuesday, March 17, making personal identifiers freely accessible to anyone visiting the website. According to multiple sources who contacted 6 Investigates, the breach was alarming.
Extent of the Breach
The exposed information detailed:
- 34 individuals with full names and driver's license numbers
- 7 individuals with exposed Social Security numbers
- Comprehensive municipal court citation details
Within minutes of 6 Investigates reaching out to city council members on Monday night, the agenda packet was removed from the website.
Potential Risks
Privacy experts warn that such exposure can lead to serious consequences, including:
- Identity theft
- Potential financial fraud
- Unauthorized personal information access
The City of Taft said it is "actively addressing the issue related to the agenda packet and has taken immediate steps to contain the matter. Upon discovery, we promptly removed the affected documents from public access and are conducting an internal review to determine the full scope of the exposure."
In a written response to KRIS 6, City Manager Ryan Smith said, "the City has identified those impacted and will be sending formal notifications in accordance with applicable laws and best practices for data security. Affected individuals will be provided with guidance on monitoring their personal information and steps they can take to protect themselves from potential misuse. Additionally, those whose Social Security numbers were included in the disclosure will be offered credit monitoring services through the City to help safeguard against potential identity theft or fraud."
"To prevent future occurrences, the City is implementing additional safeguards, including a multi-layer review process before the release of public documents and enhanced employee training on handling confidential information. We are also reviewing and strengthening policies governing document preparation and distribution to ensure sensitive data is not inadvertently included in public records," Smith added.
Our team will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available. KRIS 6 News is committed to covering Tuesday's council meeting.
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