A spokesperson for the office did not elaborate on when and how the problem was identified.CHRIS WATTIE/Reuters
The website and public registry of the office that provides ethics advice to MPs has been shut down because of a “potential security vulnerability.”
The lead spokesperson for the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner confirmed the problem on Tuesday.
“We are working closely with House of Commons IT services and cybersecurity partners to assess and address the situation,” Melanie Rushworth, communications director for the office, said in a statement.
In the meantime, she added, the website and registry are offline.
The Office of the Ethics Commissioner was created in 2007. The independent officer of Parliament oversees compliance with the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, and the Conflict of Interest Act, which governs cabinet ministers and senior public servants.
Konrad von Finckenstein, the current ethics commissioner, has held the post since 2023.
Ms. Rushworth did not elaborate on when and how the problem was identified, nor elaborate on any risks for users of the office’s website.
“There is currently no indication that individuals need to take any specific action,” she said, adding that requests for information on the registry are being dealt with by the office.
The administration of the House of Commons is aware of and monitoring the situation, spokesperson Olivier Duhaime said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that the administration takes all reports and indicators of potential cybersecurity incidents seriously, and that questions about the vulnerability should be addressed to the Office of the Ethics Commissioner.
“For security and confidentiality reasons, the House of Commons does not comment on specific cybersecurity measures or ongoing assessments,” he said.