“This is a betrayal of the entire public,” says Justice Minister amid data leak scandal

Minister of Justice Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir condemned what she called a “betrayal of the system” during an emergency question session in Alþingi, following shocking revelations of a major breach involving the theft and sale of sensitive police data.

The issue came to light after allegations emerged that the company PPP had gained access to confidential materials from the office of the Special Prosecutor General — including surveillance data — and sold them to private parties. The breach has triggered public outcry and raised serious concerns about the integrity of the justice system.

"A serious crime"

“This is a betrayal of the system. This is a betrayal of colleagues who work with integrity on behalf of society, and this is a betrayal of the entire public,” said Gunnlaugsdóttir, responding to a question from Progressive Party MP Ingibjörg Isaksen.

The Minister called the situation deeply concerning and said that while not all facts are yet known, there are strong indications that a serious crime has been committed. “The nation rightfully demands that the legal system be honest and that trust in it is maintained,” she said.

Trust and transparency in question

Isaksen pressed the Minister on whether the breach could signal a broader trend of declining respect for privacy and legal certainty in Icelandic society. Gunnlaugsdóttir replied that it was too early to draw systemic conclusions, but the gravity of the case was unquestionable.

“The sad thing about cases like this is that the entire system bears the blame,” she said. “It’s clear that data was accessed where it shouldn’t have been — and used in ways it should never have been.”

The Justice Minister confirmed that both the Police Oversight Committee and the Office of the Attorney General are now investigating the incident. “My position on the seriousness of this matter is absolutely clear,” she said.

Evidence of systematic abuse

MP Ingibjörg Isaksen emphasized the human cost of the breach, pointing out that many of the victims were simply citizens exercising their legal rights. “This was not just a leak of sensitive material — it included interceptions, photographs, and recordings used against people who had done nothing more than seek justice,” she said.

She acknowledged that government response so far was a step in the right direction, but warned that public trust had been damaged. She asked the Minister whether Alþingi would receive full disclosure of the investigation's findings and what measures the executive branch planned to implement to prevent future breaches.

Reinforcing institutional safeguards

Gunnlaugsdóttir said the incident underscored the importance of media scrutiny, institutional vigilance, and strong internal safeguards. “Much work has been done within the police and the legal system since these cases were under investigation,” she said. “While we cannot eliminate all risk, our task is to reduce it as much as possible and ensure that when such breaches occur, they are met with swift and decisive action.”