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Computer hackers
WorldEurope

Hackers dump personal data of hundreds of German politicians

  • Leaked information said to include email addresses, mobile phone numbers, photos of IDs and personal chat histories

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Federal cybersecurity agency BSI is investigating the hack. Photo: Reuters
Agence France-Presse

Hundreds of German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, have fallen victim to a massive online leak of private data, the government said Friday.

“Personal data and documents belonging to hundreds of politicians and public figures were published on the internet,” government spokeswoman Martina Fietz told reporters.

“The government is taking this incident very seriously.”

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She said the political officials included members of the Bundestag lower house of parliament, the European Parliament as well as regional and local assemblies.

Deputies from all parties represented in the Bundestag were affected, she added.

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A close-up view of the Twitter account 'G0d' (@_0rbit) in Berlin, Germany, 04 January 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/CLEMENS BILAN
A close-up view of the Twitter account 'G0d' (@_0rbit) in Berlin, Germany, 04 January 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/CLEMENS BILAN
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