Cult survivors fearful after inquiry accidentally shares email addresses

Abuse survivors who gave evidence to a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into cults and fringe groups say they feel exposed after their email addresses were shared with those they made submissions about.The Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee yesterday released its final report after a year-long inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups.But the committee inadvertently sent its final recommendations to 330 visible email addresses. The email list included witnesses who told stories of leaving high-control groups, and those who made submissions from those groups. "The fact that their email addresses may now be known by their abusers is beyond distressing," said Alex Belle, who is part of Survivors of Coercive Cults and High Control Groups. "I think if anything, the data breach does reinforce just how damaging cults are, you know, how hard it is for us to leave and leave safely."Alex got out of the Hebrew Roots movement two-and-a-half years ago and had made an anonymous submission to the inquiry. They said they had serious concerns for the safety of the respondents."And not only may those survivors now be identified, particularly those who had written in anonymously or confidentially, there may be other people who've been mentioned in those reports," they said.Alex did not want the breach to take away from the landmark report, which recommends outlawing coercive control in group settings as part of 39 recommendations to the Victorian government."It's something that's actually, actionable, meaningful, and has finally let us let survivors be heard after years of feeling invisible and has recognised the nuance of cult harm," they said."Our advocacy group has had a lot of panicked survivors messaging and calling at the moment and we can't even tell them that their fears aren't founded because they very much are."Patrick McIvor says the privacy breach is an example of the need for a dedicated commissioner. (Supplied: Patrick McIvor)Breach highlights needThe inquiry received almost 300 submissions from many who had left groups they believed to have taken control of their lives. Of the 291 written submissions, 172 were "name withheld" or "confidential".Patrick McIvor is an advocate survivor and told the ABC while the group applauded the report, the privacy breach was a glaring example of why a commissioner dedicated to addressing group-based coercion was needed. "It should not overshadow the inquiry's final report, which provides a powerful road map for change and reflects almost every major reform priority survivors called for," Mr McIvor said. "However, it stopped short of recommending a dedicated commissioner, which we will continue to advocate for. "This breach shows why a single point of responsibility is so important, a commissioner or similar authority could ensure breaches like this are properly addressed, while identifying and following up other cross-agency failures that the report recognised as an ongoing systemic problem."Fears for safetyOne survivor, who gave evidence anonymously and whose name has been withheld to protect their identity, said they were fearful."I just want to know why this has been allowed to happen, who did it and the repercussions for families and individuals who have escaped?" she said."Who is going to support us through this?"She, and many witnesses who made submissions or testified, said they lived with post-traumatic stress disorder."We are in these communities and they know where we are," she said."I'm worried for a lot of people's safety."Ryan Carey and his wife Catherine with MP Christine Couzens and Victorian Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny at parliament yesterday after the inquiry's report was tabled. (Supplied: Ryan Carey)Ryan Carey is a survivor and is part of Stop Religious Coercion Australia."I feel physically sick, because I know the real-world impact of the situation," Mr Carey said."There's been a lot of bravery for survivors to tell their story and to even get them to trust the government that their anonymity would be kept secret."There's a real possibility that there will be retribution to stop people talking in the future."'Unacceptable privacy breach'Labor MP Ella George was the chair of the inquiry and said it was an administrative error which will be part of a full review into the secretariat's processes."Yesterday, there was an unacceptable privacy breach where email addresses of inquiry stakeholders were made public," Ms George said."I want to assure every Victorian who made a submission to our inquiry that we are taking this matter very seriously."Many people shared their experiences for the first time, and demonstrated immense courage in speaking out."The list of stakeholders who were emailed included a large list of people who emailed about the inquiry, including those who made submissions, anyone who asked questions and journalists."We note that the stakeholder list is connected with a committee proceeding," Ms George said."Therefore, further disclosing, using or sharing that information, including email addresses, may be a breach of parliamentary privilege."On behalf of the committee, I offer my sincerest apology for any distress this has caused."