The data breach in early 2025 came about from unauthorized third-party cyber criminals, which could have exposed information like people’s Social Security numbers and identifying information for people’s passports, driver’s licenses and financial accounts, according to the complaint.
The person suing UMass is Matthew Miller, and he is joined by others as part of a class action suit of those who also had their data exposed.
The institution said it is “committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of the information we maintain,” according to a letter sent by David Gingerella, vice chancellor of administration and facilities.
The institution is adopting “additional safeguards and technical security measures to further protect and monitor” its systems, Gingerella wrote.
It is also offering a complimentary one-year membership to Experian Identity Works to detect misuse of personal information.
A UMass Dartmouth spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, Miller claims that the institution didn’t notify people of the data breach until months after it discovered it.
The complaint states that the court declare a class action, award damages and require more data protection, among other requests.
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