Member's statement: AFBI Data Breach

Member's statement by Ms Diana Armstrong on 3 November 2025.

MLA

Ms Diana Armstrong

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

3 November 2025

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

AFBI Data Breach

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5212842

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I raise the issue of the significant data breach at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), in which farmers' personal details were inadvertently released through a freedom of information request. The incident raises serious concerns about data security in public bodies. Clearly, lessons were not learned from the PSNI's catastrophic data breach in 2023. At AFBI, proper safeguards and oversight measures were either inadequate or ignored. It was a careless and almost certainly avoidable failure that has placed hard-working farmers and their families at risk. The release of personal information has reportedly been exploited by activist groups to target and infiltrate farms under false pretences. Such behaviour amounts to vigilantism. Investigations into animal welfare must be conducted by the appropriate statutory authorities, not by politically motivated campaigners whose ultimate aim is the promotion of veganism and the destruction of Northern Ireland's agri-food sector. Farmers who provide data to public agencies in good faith must be able to trust that it will be handled responsibly. Many now face sleepless nights knowing that their personal details are in the hands of extremists. I therefore call on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline urgently the full timeline of events, including when the breach occurred, when it was discovered and when affected individuals were informed. He should explain what steps have been taken to address the situation and to prevent a recurrence, confirm how many farmers have been impacted on and explain why it took nearly seven months for the information to come to light. I also ask him to detail what support or compensation will be made available to those affected. The incident has further damaged the confidence of the farming community in public authorities. Trust is at an all-time low, so it must be rebuilt through transparency, accountability and immediate action from the Department. Recent reports citing investigations by those activist groups, based on illegally obtained information, have attempted to paint Northern Ireland's farming sector in an appalling light. It is deeply concerning that that narrative is being driven by clear ideological agendas rather than by objective, lawful and evidence-based oversight. Farmers deserve protection, not persecution. The Minister must make it clear that there is no threat to livestock or poultry production and that decisive measures are being taken to ensure the security of those who feed our nation.

391 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:46 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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