State Comptroller Finds Sensitive Data Accessible to All Public Defense Employees

The State Comptroller of Israel, Matanyahu Englman, released a report highlighting several deficiencies in the Public Defense Service, including issues with information security, oversight, and unequal fee collection. The Public Defense Service is responsible for representing defendants, detainees, and suspects who cannot afford private legal representation, playing a crucial role in ensuring the right to a fair trial. The report revealed that 392 employees with active permissions to the "Defender" information security system had unrestricted access to all sensitive data, without proper segmentation based on their roles or districts. This lack of appropriate data compartmentalization raises significant concerns about confidentiality and operational security within the organization.