Member's statement: Just Eat: Alleged Cybersecurity Breach
Member's statement by Ms Connie Egan on .
- MLA
- Ms Connie Egan
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 30 September 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Just Eat: Alleged Cybersecurity Breach
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4563375
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise to bring attention to a monumental scandal that was brought into sharp focus for the public on 'Nolan Live'. The fraudulent activity that appears to be conducted through the Just Eat delivery app has lost businesses across Northern Ireland, including in my constituency of North Down, hundreds of thousands of pounds. Numerous food partners that joined the Just Eat server appear to have fallen victim to a cybersecurity breach. That led to the bank details of enterprises being altered to those of an unknown third party, resulting in the theft of income that should have been made through working with Just Eat. That has left a large hole in the pockets of businesses trying to pay rent, pay staff and cover running costs. In my constituency, I would like to draw particular attention to Bokhara, which has lost £19,000, and Lili's, which has lost £7,500. While Just Eat makes a percentage in commission on each order, I would ask whether it has profited while the theft occurred. I spent time with the owner of the Bokhara on Thursday night and heard from him about the absolute impact and lack of trust that this has left between business owners and the delivery technology providers. They are devastated. Those businesses deserve their funds back. Instead of acting with compassion and taking responsibility, Just Eat originally stated that, upon investigation, there had been no breach of security. Instead, the press statement insinuated that fault lay with the businesses that were victims and stated that they had shared their access codes, although many of them have said that they absolutely had not. The Northern Ireland Food To Go Association has been working tirelessly in representing businesses across Northern Ireland that have fallen victim to this. However, the whole circumstance raises multiple questions about how it was allowed to happen, the regulation of online delivery and service providers and their cybersecurity. In my opinion, Just Eat can more than afford to reimburse the food establishments affected, and I call on it to do so immediately. Also, I urge the Minister for the Economy to look into the issue and give clarity to all those impacted so that they know that the Assembly stands with them.
372 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.80).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.80 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:06 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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