Lithuanian parliament to probe massive data theft from Center of Registers

Lithuania's parliament, the Seimas, is set to discuss the formation of a temporary investigative commission to examine a significant data breach at the Center of Registers. The proposed commission seeks to uncover political accountability and determine if negligence played a role in the incident.

The investigation will focus on 19 key questions, aiming to clarify the circumstances surrounding the leak of over 600,000 real estate records. This breach potentially impacts around 500,000 citizens and has caused an estimated financial loss of at least 111,000 euros.

The incident has already led to personnel changes, with the former head of the Center of Registers, Adrijus Jusas, resigning following calls from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy and Innovation. Giedrius Cininas, head of the Prevention Department, is currently serving as interim director.

Reports suggest the data may have been accessed through accounts belonging to employees of the Migration Department. Initial theft incidents were recorded as early as January, but the public became aware of the breach only in late May. The General Prosecutor's Office has been investigating the case since mid-April.

The potential implications for national security are also a concern, with the commission tasked to assess whether proper measures were taken to evaluate the risks of data being transferred or used by foreign states or their intelligence services. The initiative received support in an initial vote, with 61 members of the Seimas voting in favor, 21 against, and 25 abstaining.