Thierry Baudet in 2020. Photo: Rickazio via Wikimedia Commons
An IT failure in the app launched last weekend by far right party Forum voor Democratie has placed the names, addresses and bank account numbers of all 93,000 current and past party members in the public domain, broadcaster RTL has reported, following a tip-off.
On its website the party describes the leak as a ‘possible hostile attack’ on its IT system and said it may press criminal charges once an investigation has been completed.
The leak was closed after RTL reported the breach but it is unclear how many people had access to the confidential information before it was shut down.
Most of the leaked information comes from members in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Almere, RTL said and three-quarters of the membership are male.
The membership list also showed that only 43,000 have paid membership fees this year. Forum claims to have a membership of 58,000 and its government subsidy is partly based on this figure.
Political parties in the Netherlands are given state funding to contribute towards election campaigns, activities to encourage youngsters to participate in politics and other activities.
The aim of the ForumApp is to allow members to meet, date and find do business with like-minded individuals and companies as part of party leader Thierry Baudet’s plans to develop a ‘Forumland’.
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