{"id":2568744,"date":"2026-02-11T12:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T17:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-million-children-in-utah-had-health-data-mistakenly-accessible\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T12:09:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T17:09:19","slug":"two-million-children-in-utah-had-health-data-mistakenly-accessible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-million-children-in-utah-had-health-data-mistakenly-accessible\/","title":{"rendered":"Two million children in Utah had health data mistakenly accessible"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftwo-million-children-in-utah-had-health-data-mistakenly-accessible%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2568744&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An official utah audit has found a critical failure to protect the privacy of families adn individuals within the state&#8217;s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).<\/p>\n<p>Key findings:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Sensitive case records for more than 2 million people were inadequately protected, with access possible by more than 2,000 employees.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; About 6 million records in the Division of Child and family Services (DCFS) were left vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Most privacy issues were found in two systems: SAFE (child welfare) and EChart (Utah State Hospital), including weak access controls, uncontrolled data dissemination, and insufficient monitoring.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; There was inadequate oversight of incident records, insufficient employee training, and no secure anonymous mechanism to report privacy breaches.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; documented instances of staff accessing or disclosing records improperly, including unauthorized photos, point to systemic weaknesses that could enable privacy violations without timely detection.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The auditor called the deficiencies a \u201ccritical failure\u201d to protect privacy, warning of potential misuse and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/will-biden-close-his-jobs-deficit-rep-kevin-brady-on-what-to-look-for-in-fridays-jobs-report\/\" title=\"Will Biden Close His Jobs Deficit? Rep. Kevin Brady On What To Look For In Friday\u2019s Jobs Report\">long-term harm<\/a> to individuals\u2019 private facts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Two million children in Utah had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-admin-treads-carefully-in-transgender-prison-housing-cases\/\" title=\"Trump admin treads carefully in transgender prison housing cases\">health data mistakenly accessible<\/a> to state employees<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2494474\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/utah\/\">Utah<\/a>&rsquo;s health agency is guilty of the &ldquo;critical failure&rdquo; to secure millions of patient records, putting sensitive data at risk, according to an official <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/investigations\/\">audit<\/a> released Tuesday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Utah Auditor Tina Cannon&rsquo;s investigation found that the state&rsquo;s Department of Health and Human Services did not adequately protect sensitive case records for over 2 million people, leaving them easily accessible to over 2,000 employees. Roughly 6 million records contained in the Division of Child and Family Services, which lies under DHHS, were left vulnerable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4454003\/medicare-spending-expected-double-decade-cbo-says\/\">Medicare spending expected to double in next decade, CBO says<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4452466\/kathy-hochul-enters-new-york-who-network\/\">Kathy Hochul enters New York into WHO network after Trump pulls US out of global body<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4451601\/rfk-jr-touts-maha-plans-year-2\/\">RFK Jr. touts MAHA&#8217;s plans for Year 2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The deficiencies we uncovered at the Department of Health and Human Services represent a critical failure to protect the privacy of families, individuals, and our most vulnerable, Utah&rsquo;s children,&rdquo; Cannon said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/wp-media-osa\/509575d7-dhhs_privacy_audit_press_release.pdf\">in a statement<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When systems that store confidential data about children and individuals lack fundamental safeguards, the potential for misuse and long-term harm is immense,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is not merely saved data or historical files. These are key aspects that represent and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-grooming-gangs-scandal-could-happen-in-the-us\/\" title=\"UK Grooming Gangs Scandal Could Happen In The US\">open people&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s private lives.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The audit found most data privacy issues within SAFE, a child welfare information system in DCFS. SAFE records include case notes, case management of in-home and foster care cases, adoption cases, and child abuse and neglect cases. Problems were also found within EChart, the record system Utah State Hospital uses for patients with mental health needs. EChart currently contains records related to 10,587 individuals, according to the auditor&rsquo;s office.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The audit identified systemic problems in access controls, records dissemination, and monitoring across systems and teams handling sensitive records. DHHS lacks adequate oversight of incident records, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/video-shows-jack-in-the-box-employee-shoot-at-drive-thru-customer-allegedly-over-missing-curly-fries\/\" title=\"Video: Jack In The Box worker fires at drive...thru customer, possibly due to absent curly fries.\">adequate employee training<\/a>, and effective monitoring to detect and manage privacy and security incidents, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/wp-media-osa\/auditorWebsiteImages\/DHHS_Privacy_Rpt.pdf\">according to <\/a>Cannon&rsquo;s office. The weaknesses in oversight, awareness, and internal controls allow privacy violations to go undetected or unaddressed for extended periods, according to the review.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Without effective monitoring and safeguards, staff are vulnerable to external pressures, and a single point of failure can compromise entire systems, potentially exposing millions of records to unauthorized access,&rdquo; the audit reads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cannon&rsquo;s review revealed that DHHS &ldquo;is aware of intentional breaches of policy and confidentiality agreements occurring, along with known instances where workers access or disclose records to the wrong persons by mistake.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3882270\/judge-rejects-gop-utah-redistricting-plan-creates-new-blue-district\/\">UTAH JUDGE REJECTS GOP REDISTRICTING PLAN IN FAVOR OF ONE THAT CREATES A NEW BLUE DISTRICT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The division&rsquo;s privacy officers have documented instances of staff capturing unauthorized photos of patients or facilities, as well as external reports of sensitive data posted online. No well-known or secure mechanism for anonymous reporting of inappropriate access is in place for either the EChart or SAFE records system, meaning there are limited options to report wrongdoing &ldquo;without fear of retaliation from agency leadership or coworkers,&rdquo; the audit found.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The development follows <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/wp-media-osa\/f083bc97-dhhs_drug_reimbursement_press_release.pdf\">another state audit <\/a>released last month that similarly found DHHS had breached protocols. Cannon&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >office found incomplete pharmacy rebate reporting<\/a> and invoicing totaling over $49 million at Utah&rsquo;s health agency. The review identified &ldquo;significant deficiencies and noncompliance with federal requirements,&rdquo; which led to millions in rebates owed to Utah&rsquo;s Medicaid program by drug manufacturers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Utah audit: 2M children&#8217;s health records exposed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2568745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26021622321448.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4294,71522,73590,4325,5764],"class_list":["post-2568744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-children","tag-data-breach-2","tag-health-data","tag-privacy","tag-utah"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26021622321448.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2568744"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2568748,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568744\/revisions\/2568748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2568745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2568744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2568744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2568744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}