A 40-year-old Dutch man now faces criminal charges for “computer trespassing” after police sent him the wrong link.
The officer meant to share an upload link so the man could submit evidence related to a separate investigation. Instead, a download link was sent by mistake, giving the man access to confidential police documents.
The man contacted authorities on February 12th because he had footage that might help with an active criminal case.
He was trying to cooperate. But an officer mixed up the links, and what should have been a simple evidence upload turned into a data breach caused entirely by law enforcement.
Police Mistake Turns Witness Into Suspect
According to the official press release from Dutch police, the man chose to download the exposed files. Officers told him to stop and delete everything.
Rather than comply, he reportedly said he would only hand over the documents if he “received something in return.”
Police then arrested the man at his home in Ridderkerk, searched the property, and seized his storage devices. He was charged with unauthorized computer access under Dutch law.
Authorities say they followed standard data breach protocol and found no evidence the files were distributed beyond the suspect’s devices.
Final Thoughts
The police created this entire situation through their own carelessness, yet the civilian is the one facing criminal charges.
Dutch authorities argue the man should have known the files weren’t meant for him, but would any of this have happened if the officer had simply sent the correct link? This case shows authorities holding citizens to standards they don’t apply to themselves.
Stories like this remind us why privacy tools matter, and a quality VPN can keep your online activity private from ISPs, government agencies, and third parties who may not have your best interests at heart.
For more details on this story, refer to the official Polite press release and the report from Cybernews.
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