A recent privacy breach affecting Rogers customers in the Niagara region has triggered sharp criticism from The Canadian Internet Society, which says the incident is more than a technical hiccup—it’s a breakdown in trust.
Some Rogers customers reportedly found themselves connected to private calls between strangers, with conversations including personal and medical details. In a public statement, the Internet Society called the incident “a fundamental failure in protecting the privacy and trust of Canadians.”
“This is not just a technical glitch,” the group said on July 28. “Privacy and trust in telecommunications infrastructure are not optional—they are essential.”
The Internet Society is now calling on Rogers to “immediately and transparently investigate and disclose the root cause of this issue.” It’s also urging the CRTC and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to conduct independent investigations.
Beyond the privacy concerns, the group says this breach highlights deeper issues in the Canadian telecom industry. “This breach also underscores the broader, long-standing concerns about the lack of competition in Canada’s telecommunications sector,” the statement reads. “When a handful of companies control the market, there is little incentive to prioritize consumer protection, service quality, or innovation.”
They’re calling on the federal government to “take meaningful steps to increase competition and consumer choice in the telecom market—something Canadians have demanded for far too long.”
The group closed by reinforcing what’s at stake: “Canadians deserve telecommunications infrastructure that is reliable, secure, and competitive—not one that compromises their privacy or limits their options.”
We had some iPhone in Canada readers contact us about this phone call privacy breach. They were able to hear other people’s private conversations and were able to duplicate the situation repeatedly. We reached out to Rogers for a statement on the matter–but they never responded.
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