{"id":"viq-australian-court-files-breach-feb-2026","category":"breach","status":"live","title":"VIQ Australian court files accessed by unauthorised offshore transcription staff","tldr":"Australian court files were accessed by unauthorised offshore transcription staff working through VIQ. Its Australian business has wound down, but investigations remain open. If your case used VIQ, ask your lawyer or court registry whether your information was affected.","summary":"An ABC investigation published on 17 February found that VIQ Solutions had subcontracted Australian court transcription to e24 Technologies in India without telling the courts. ABC reported thousands of files accessed; VIQ subsequently confirmed unauthorised access affecting certain Australian customers. The work included federal and family court proceedings, which can contain sensitive information about children, family violence and property disputes. In May, the family court said VIQ had identified 136 affected files, but it could not verify that count; at least 10 Federal Court matters were also believed to have been transcribed offshore. These figures do not establish the total number of people affected. Family court litigants had not been notified at that point. VIQ's Australian business entered administration and was subsequently wound down. As at 3 November, the latest reporting said investigations remained open. VIQ's February statement reported no evidence of public disclosure or misuse; the reviewed sources do not establish a final investigation outcome or subsequent completion of individual notifications. There is no software update for families to install.","action":"If your court matter used VIQ transcription, ask your lawyer or the relevant court registry whether your recordings or transcripts were affected and what notification or support is available. Highlight any confidential address, child-safety or family-violence information so they can assess protective steps.","product":"VIQ Solutions Australian court transcription services","audience":"both","severity":"high","patch":"na","exploited":false,"cves":[],"tags":["viq-solutions","australia","courts","data-breach","privacy"],"affected":[],"fixed":[],"matches":[],"sources":[{"kind":"advisory","title":"VIQ Solutions Identifies Data Incidents in Australia","url":"https://viqsolutions.com/media-center/viq-solutions-identifies-data-incidents-in-australia/","by":"VIQ Solutions","date":"2026-02-20"},{"kind":"news","title":"VIQ Solutions Identifies Data Incidents in Australia","url":"https://www.stocktitan.net/news/VQSSF/viq-solutions-identifies-data-incidents-in-tj7nrv1aa7b5.html","by":"VIQ Solutions via StockTitan","date":"2026-02-20"},{"kind":"news","title":"Highly sensitive Australian court data accessed by foreign entity based in India","url":"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-17/transcripts-federal-court-viq-solutions-e24-technologies-india/106349338","by":"ABC News","date":"2026-02-17"},{"kind":"news","title":"Attorney-General's Department contacted Australian Cyber Security Centre when notified of court privacy breach","url":"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-27/viq-solutions-privacy-breach-contract-extension/106722674","by":"ABC News","date":"2026-05-27"},{"kind":"advisory","title":"VIQ Solutions Provides Update on Voluntary Administration of Australian Subsidiaries","url":"https://viqsolutions.com/media-center/viq-provides-update-on-voluntary-administration-australian-subsidiaries/","by":"VIQ Solutions","date":"2026-06-04"},{"kind":"advisory","title":"VIQ Solutions Q2 2026 Financial Results: Australian Operations Wound Down","url":"https://viqsolutions.com/media-center/viq-solutions-q2-2026-financial-results/","by":"VIQ Solutions","date":"2026-08-13"},{"kind":"news","title":"ATO, ASIC feared data breach by supplier VIQ Solutions a year before it was public","url":"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-30/ato-asic-viq-solutions-data-breach-2025/107317532","by":"ABC News","date":"2026-10-30"}],"started":"2026-02-17","closed":null,"created":"2026-11-03T21:02:47.983Z","updated":"2026-11-03T21:02:47.983Z","cve_notes":[],"timeline":[{"at":"2026-10-30","added":"2026-11-03T20:51:54.186Z","kind":"other","text":"ABC reported that investigations into the court-data breach remained ongoing. Newly released emails revealed separate ATO and ASIC concerns about VIQ's offshore processing in 2025; ASIC had classified that earlier incident as a near miss based on VIQ's report.","url":"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-30/ato-asic-viq-solutions-data-breach-2025/107317532","by":"ABC News","patch":null},{"at":"2026-08-13","added":"2026-11-03T20:51:54.186Z","kind":"other","text":"VIQ reported that much of its Australian operational wind-down had been completed in June. Management and capital were being directed towards its North American and UK businesses.","url":"https://viqsolutions.com/media-center/viq-solutions-q2-2026-financial-results/","by":"VIQ Solutions","patch":null},{"at":"2026-06-04","added":"2026-11-03T20:51:54.186Z","kind":"other","text":"VIQ announced that administrators would wind down its Australian business after attempts to sell or recapitalise it failed.","url":"https://viqsolutions.com/media-center/viq-provides-update-on-voluntary-administration-australian-subsidiaries/","by":"VIQ Solutions","patch":null},{"at":"2026-05-26","added":"2026-11-03T20:51:54.186Z","kind":"other","text":"Senate estimates heard that VIQ had identified 136 family court files, a figure the court could not verify, while at least 10 Federal Court matters were believed to have been transcribed offshore. Affected family court litigants had not been notified, and a complaint had been lodged with Canada's privacy commissioner.","url":"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-27/viq-solutions-privacy-breach-contract-extension/106722674","by":"ABC News","patch":null},{"at":"2026-03-16","added":"2026-11-03T20:51:54.186Z","kind":"other","text":"McGrathNicol administrators were appointed to assess the viability of VIQ's Australian business, according to ABC's subsequent report.","url":"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-27/viq-solutions-privacy-breach-contract-extension/106722674","by":"ABC News","patch":null},{"at":"2026-02-20","added":"2026-11-03T20:51:54.186Z","kind":"disclosed","text":"VIQ confirmed unauthorised data access by its global personnel during Australian transcription work and engaged an independent cybersecurity firm. It said certain Australian customers were affected, with no evidence of public disclosure, misuse or attempted misuse.","url":"https://viqsolutions.com/media-center/viq-solutions-identifies-data-incidents-in-australia/","by":"VIQ Solutions","patch":null},{"at":"2026-02-17","added":"2026-11-03T20:51:54.186Z","kind":"disclosed","text":"ABC reported that thousands of Australian court files had been accessed by staff at Chennai-based subcontractor e24 Technologies without the courts being told. Australian VIQ workers said they had raised concerns about offshore transcription as early as August 2025.","url":"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-17/transcripts-federal-court-viq-solutions-e24-technologies-india/106349338","by":"ABC News","patch":"na"}],"url":"https://hard.fyi/live/viq-australian-court-files-breach-feb-2026/","json":"https://hard.fyi/api/live?id=viq-australian-court-files-breach-feb-2026"}