Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Leaked data prompts news backlash in Canada, U.S.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Feb, 2022 10:43 AM
  • Leaked data prompts news backlash in Canada, U.S.

WASHINGTON - One of the most prominent progressive Democrats on Capitol Hill is doubling down on her public criticism of journalists who contacted people who donated to the protesters in Ottawa.

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar sparked a Twitter firestorm earlier this week when she criticized an Ottawa Citizen story about a local business owner who was harassed after her $250 donation became public.

Omar called the report "unconscionable," suggesting it was the reason the business owner was harassed.

The tweet prompted a barrage of responses, many of which agreed with Omar's position, while others tried to point out that the harassment began with the leak of the hacked data, well before the story was published.

Late Wednesday, Omar defended her position, saying she'd read the story "multiple times" and concluded it had no merit other than to cause "further harassment."

Reporters across the U.S. and Canada have faced backlash for using the hacked data from crowdfunding site GiveSendGo to reach out to donors for confirmation.

The Canadian Press reported on the leaked data and published names of people who confirmed they donated when reached for comment.

"I wish journalists wrote the articles they think they are writing," Omar wrote on her personal Twitter account, where she has an estimated three million followers.

Stories, she continued, "aren't always balanced and often have a clear political bias."

"You all are entitled to your opinions, but my opinion remains the same. These kinds of stories ruin people's lives and are uncalled for."

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Moderna announces full US approval for its COVID-19 vaccine

Moderna announces full US approval for its COVID-19 vaccine
The decision was bolstered by real-world evidence from the more than 200 million doses administered in the U.S. since the FDA cleared the shot in December 2020. The FDA granted full approval of Pfizer’s vaccine last August.

Moderna announces full US approval for its COVID-19 vaccine

Ottawa protests aren't 'peaceful': critics

Ottawa protests aren't 'peaceful': critics
For two days, the downtown core of the nation's capital has been a no-go zone as trucks and crowds have snarled traffic, with some members defacing monuments and wielding signs with violent and hateful imagery. Police are also investigating what they describe as threatening behaviour toward officers, city workers and other individuals, as well as damage to a city vehicle.

Ottawa protests aren't 'peaceful': critics

PM Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19

PM Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19
Trudeau is fully vaccinated and received his booster shot at a local Ottawa pharmacy in early January. Last Thursday, Trudeau said he was going into isolation for five days after finding out the previous evening he had been in contact with someone who tested positive.

PM Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19

PBO puts estimate on feds' foreign homeowner tax

PBO puts estimate on feds' foreign homeowner tax
The one per cent tax was to take effect at the start of the year and the Finance Department estimates it will bring in $200 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, which begins in April.    

PBO puts estimate on feds' foreign homeowner tax

MPs to resume sitting as Ottawa protest simmers

MPs to resume sitting as Ottawa protest simmers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to address Canadians Monday afternoon, following three days of unrest that has brought the divisive arguments about vaccine mandates and public health restrictions soaring back to the top of the agenda.    

MPs to resume sitting as Ottawa protest simmers

Minister pledges 2022 fix to immigration backlog

Minister pledges 2022 fix to immigration backlog
The government last year announced it would spend $85 million to plow through the backlogged applications, which Fraser says will be used mainly to hire more staff.

Minister pledges 2022 fix to immigration backlog