Watch CBS News

Hackers Expose Email Addresses Of City Employees On Website For Cheaters

By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Hackers have released the email addresses of thousands of registered users at a website that promotes extramarital affairs. Nine of those addresses are for City of Philadelphia employees, and now city officials are investigating.

"These dating websites -- and there are apparently very many of them -- they are not currently blocked. So that may have enable some individuals to use their city computer and email address."

This particular site -- called Ashley Madison -- promotes extramarital affairs, and McDonald says the Office of Information Technology is now investigating nine of the leaked email addresses that had the city's "phila.gov" domain.

"If employees were using their computer to go to this website and conduct their personal business, that would violate city policy. And if proven, they would face some kind of disciplinary action. When and if we find particular employee names associated with going on that website, there will be a conversation with those employees."

McDonald would not say what sort of disciplinary action could result. But he said this policy applies to all dating websites -- not just ones that promote affairs:

"This one might be off the charts and into the realm of the scurrilous. But there are plenty of other websites that we don't want city employees going to."

And McDonald made clear that however this is resolved, it's a personnel matter, so the city will not make the names of those involved public.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.