[REVISION HISTORY]

British Columbia government employee directory removal

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-26 21:15 UTC → 2026-08-27 12:59 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The British Columbia Citizens’ Services Ministry disabled the province’s public online employee directory, a service existing since at least 1930. The government cited cybersecurity threats, such as phishing and the use of AI to harvest information, as the primary motivation for the decision, which followed advice from law enforcement partners including the RCMP. While the ministry plans to implement a replacement directory featuring contact information for senior executives and various ministries, the move has faced criticism. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses and Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey raised concerns regarding government transparency and accountability. Commissioner Harvey described the removal as “regrettable,” noting the risk of employees being “doxxed” while emphasizing that public bodies should maintain a “human face.” Critics have further argued that the move creates a “fortress mentality” that hinders communication between citizens and officials. Following the removal, Commissioner Harvey launched an official inquiry to evaluate the validity of the cited security risks. The investigation aims to address concerns that the lack of a functional replacement could erode public trust, and the Commissioner’s office intends to issue a public report with recommendations to balance cybersecurity needs with democratic transparency. Additionally, critics have pointed to the shutdown as an example of increasing secrecy and red tape by the BC NDP, arguing it contradicts promises to restore open government.

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