Privacy Watchdog Finds Thousands of Tax Account Breaches, Urges Stronger Protections

Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on May 6, 2026. The Canadian Press/Adrian WyldThe federal privacy watchdog says there have been more than 42,000 breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency since 2020 as a result of people gaining unauthorized access to, or modifying, taxpayer information.In a special report tabled in Parliament, privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne points to gaps in the revenue agency’s prevention, monitoring, detection and handling of breaches.