Malaysia: Personal Data of 220,000 organ donors leaked online, govt launches probe

Malaysia has launched an investigation after the details of 220,000 people who registered as organ donors were reportedly leaked online, the second big data breach in recent months.

Details including the name, identity card number, age, race and address of people who had signed up between 2009 and 2016 were included in the data dump, technology website Lowyat.net reported.

The data, which appeared to have come from a central database, also contained details of next of kin of those who had registered, it said.

The Personal Data Protection Commission, which is under the authority of the communications ministry, said it viewed the report of the leak "seriously" and had started an investigation.

It came just three months after Malaysian police launched a probe into an attempt to sell details of more than 46 million mobile phone subscribers online.

The data included addresses and identity card numbers.

The investigation into the breach is continuing.