As the fallout from the Ashley Madison hack continues, police in Canada have made a worrying statement, linking the data breach to at least two recent cases of suicide.
Toronto Police acting superintendent Bryce Evans addressed the hackers directly in a statement, saying “your actions are illegal and will not be tolerated, this is your wake-up call.”
“To the hacking community who engage in discussions on the dark web and who no-doubt have information that could assist this investigation, we’re also appealing to you to do the right thing. You know the Impact Team has crossed the line. Do the right thing and reach out to us.”“The social impact behind this (hacking) — we’re talking about families. We’re talking about their children, we’re talking about their wives, we’re talking about their male partners.”“It’s going to have impacts on their lives. We’re now going to have hate crimes that are a result of this. There are so many things that are happening. The reality is … this is not the fun and games that has been portrayed.”
Canadian police haven’t commented further on the suspected suicides but have noted that, since the hack, a number of scams have arisen from those claiming they can protect those affected by the data breach for a free, or threatening blackmail.
The full impact of the data breach on Australian users isn’t yet clear, however, it’s been noted that Sydney ranks third on the list of the world’s top Ashley Madison users.
via ABC News/video via The Guardian.
If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call Lifeline Australia’s crisis helpline on 13 11 14.
You can also call the beyondblue Support Service 24/7 – 1300 22 4636 or go to beyondblue’s website to chat online (3PM-midnight AEST) or email.
