The private telephone numbers of several high-profile international figures, including Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump Jr., have been published on a US-based website.
The platform, which the BBC has chosen not to identify, utilises artificial intelligence to scour the internet for personally identifiable information, and the contact details for both individuals remained publicly listed.
A spokesman for the Australian Prime Minister’s office confirmed they are aware of the situation, which was initially brought to light by the independent Australian media outlet Ette Media, and that local authorities have launched an investigation.
The incident has raised significant concerns regarding data privacy and the capabilities of AI-driven data aggregation. The site in question claims to maintain contact details for hundreds of millions of professionals and is marketed towards recruiters and sales representatives.
The BBC has verified that the database includes a current private number for Prime Minister Albanese, as well as a personal contact for Donald Trump Jr., though it remains unclear if the latter is still in active use. The personal number for Australia’s opposition leader, Sussan Ley, was also found to be listed. A spokesman for Ley described the matter as “obviously concerning” and confirmed they had requested the removal of her information.
Website methodology and removal process
The precise origin of the obtained information is not clear, though it emerges in a context where Australia has suffered a series of major data breaches in recent years. According to its own documentation, the website gathers public information from sources such as filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Furthermore, it employs AI to collect data harvested from social media networks, other web-crawling services, and online job portals. While users are permitted to search the database for a limited number of contacts without charge, access to its full services requires a paid subscription.
The platform does provide an opt-out mechanism, allowing individuals to submit a request for their personal information to be removed from the database.
In the course of its verification, the BBC also attempted to contact numbers listed for other prominent leaders. A number for former US President Barack Obama proved unsuccessful, while a call to a line for Bill Clinton was answered by an audibly confused man.
A London landline number purportedly for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer simply rang out without being answered.
