B.C. government ends public access to directory in place since 1930s

The B.C. government has decided to discontinue public access to its government directory, which has been available since the 1930s. This move is primarily driven by concerns over cybersecurity and the privacy of employees. The directory previously provided information on the names of provincial government employees, their department, work email, and phone number.

The Ministry of Citizen Services explained that while the directory was intended to facilitate legitimate contacts with the government, it also posed a significant risk as the same information is now accessible to anyone on the internet, including cyber threat actors. Experts from law enforcement agencies, like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), advised the ministry to shut down the directory.

The ministry acknowledges that the directory is not just used to contact government but also to understand its organization and identify the appropriate department for engagement. In response to this, the ministry plans to launch an updated directory page soon. This new version will include senior executive contact information for all government ministries while minimizing the public exposure of individual employee data and the associated cybersecurity risks.

MLA Jody Toor, who serves in the Langley-Willowbrook constituency and criticizes government services, finds the decision disappointing. She argues that privacy concerns should not lead to a lack of transparency. Toor insists that the public has a right to understand the government's structure, decision-makers, and the management of taxpayer-funded ministries and services.

She believes that it is possible to balance privacy concerns with accountability. Global News has been recommended as a preferred source on Google for readers who wish to access more stories from this outlet.