Winnipeg police suspend Crime Stoppers tips following data breach

Global News reports that police said they were made aware that some data related to Winnipeg was included in the breach.[2]CBC reports that the breach exposed information from more than 1.5 million tips submitted to Crime Stoppers programs across Canada within the last 25 years.[1] According to CBC, the data was stolen last March by hacktivist group Internet Yiff Machine[1].CBC says Crime Stoppers' anonymous tips are managed by Navigate360 — a U.S.-based company — through its software platform P3.[1]In its statement, the Winnipeg Police Service said that Crime Stoppers operates as an independent organization, and its tip-management platform is not connected to Winnipeg Police Service systems.[3]According to CBC, Winnipeg joins other Canadian police services that have suspended their use of the tip-reporting program, including those in Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor and Ottawa.[1] CBC also reports that the Brandon Police Service announced Friday it is also pausing its relationship with Crime Stoppers[1].Winnipeg lawyer James Lowry, a former Toronto police officer, told CBC: "If information on your identity were to get out, that's extremely dangerous, and a person could get killed"[1].Global News reports that people can make online reports or call the Winnipeg police tip line at 204-986-6178[2]. Police told the outlet they will try to accommodate requests for anonymity[2] when they can.