World Bank Cyber Non-Security

The World Bank, in the wake of media reports questioning its cyber security and a GAP letter asking for explanations of its current state, has taken responsibilities away from its Chief Information Officer, who headed such security.

Previous media reports show that the Bank’s records, which contain sensitive financial information from borrowing and donor countries, were repeatedly and illicitly accessed over the last year. At the same time, the Bank is trying to downplay the attacks, as it positions itself to assume a prominent role in addressing the global financial crisis. This cyber-breach situation raises troubling questions about its future effectiveness in dealing with the crisis. From FOX News:

“This is like locking the barn door after the horse – and the key – have been stolen,” said Bea Edwards, International Program Director for the Government Accountability Project (GAP). “It’s a cosmetic fix. The bank’s information system has been breached repeatedly for months, and may need a massive overhaul.”

We’ll see how this story further plays out, as we’ll be monitoring the Bank and listening to our sources inside it closely. More coverage here from the Financial Times. Here’s GAP’s full press release.

-- Dylan Blaylock