A security expert claims to have acquired a Thomson Reuters database file that contains over 2 million records from their ‘World Check’ database of “heightened risk individuals and entities,” which is used by governments, banks, and law firms around the world.
He says the database is from mid-2014 and contains millions of “heightened-risk individuals and organisations,” which it places in one or more of a number of categories, including terrorism, money laundering, organised crime, bribery, corruption, and “other unsavoury activities,” according to reports.
The company website describes the database as a tool to “screen for heightened risk individuals and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks.” Claiming their tool covers 240 countries and territories, while monitoring over 530 “sanction, watch, regulatory and law enforcement lists.”
Thomson Reuters ‘Terror’ database leaked
Reddit user Chris Vickery says he obtained a copy of the database, although he won’t reveal how until “a later time.”
Terrorism Blacklist: I have a copy. Should it be shared? from privacy
In an Interview with the BBC Mr Vickery made the following statements:
“There was no protection at all. No username or password required to see the records,”
“The worst possible situation that could arise is that someone who may be innocent, but accused of criminal activity in the database, could be permanently branded on a global scale if this database were to be spread publicly,”
This database is just a drop in the ocean, every aspect of our lives is monitored, recorded and stored away for a multitude of potential uses. If you believe you have any form privacy left, your wrong.
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