News · 17 January 2026
Therapy Notes Hacked, Patients' Secrets Exposed Online Forever
In October 2020, a hacker stole therapy records from Vastaamo, a Finnish company, and published them on the dark web. The hacker then demanded ransom from 33,000 patients, threatening to release their personal information, including therapy transcripts detailing sensitive information like suicide attempts and child sexual abuse. This became a national scandal in Finland, prompting an emergency government meeting. Meri-Tuuli Auer, one of the victims, described feeling immense fear and isolation after receiving the ransom demand.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs