The release of personal information from a government department concerning thousands of companies, as well as private individuals providing services to those same companies, is deeply concerning and strikes at the heart of public trust, the Nationalist Party said Thursday.

Contrary to the impression created in the Government's statement, which claimed that the breach affected only one company, the tax-related data breach includes information on more than 7,000 local companies and individuals associated with them, the PN said.

The Partit Nazzjonalista said it holds Minister for Finance Clyde Caruana responsible for this massive data breach.

When such a volume of sensitive information ends up in the wrong hands, as has happened in this case, it is not the result of an individual mistake, but evidence of systemic failures in the way data is handled, safeguarded, and managed. Information relating to businesses and the personal data of taxpayers is among the most sensitive and can lead to serious commercial and personal harm.Responsibility lies squarely with the Minister concerned, who must immediately publish all the facts.

He must also launch an independent investigation, separate from any inquiry conducted by the Data Protection Commissioner or the Malta Tax and Customs Administration. The Minister must be transparent about what led to this breach and what remedial action has been taken, the PN added.

The party insisted the public has a right to know what happened to their sensitive information, and they have a right to immediate remedies and a credible plan that restores trust in how personal data is handled.