Sensitive mobile phone numbers of the German Chancellor, cabinet members, heads of authorities and senior military figures have reportedly been found in the possession of commercial data brokers. The information, revealed by “Der Spiegel” magazine and attributed to a whistleblower from Italy who initially contacted affected individuals and German authorities, raises concerns about potential security risks.
The data brokers reportedly held current mobile phone numbers of Claudia Plattner, head of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, the Federal Data Protection Commissioner. The BSI confirmed to “Der Spiegel” that the number found for its president was accurate.
The agency expressed concern over the aggregated nature of the data, its ambiguous origin, its currency and the ease with which it could be accessed, noting a heightened risk of targeted phishing attacks and identity theft. The BSI stated it is in discussion with the Federal Criminal Police Office, ministries and the individuals involved, actively exploring potential next steps.
Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider stated she only became aware of her phone number being accessible through the “Der Spiegel” investigation and unequivocally rejected this. She voiced confidence that authorities were striving to dismantle illegal business models and called for clearer legislative action to curtail the activities of data brokers, arguing current regulations are insufficient.
The Press Office of the Federal Government declined to comment on the communication methods of the Chancellor for security reasons.