Pennsylvania

Local, State Officials Checking Use of Email for Ashley Madison Cheating Site

Pennsylvania and Philadelphia government officials looked into whether state and city employees used state-owned and city-owned computers or email to access an online website for people who want to cheat on their spouses.

Leaked data from the Ashley Madison website has raised questions about whether public employees were using government resources to seek partners for extramarital affairs.

More than a handful of Philadelphia city email addresses wound up on a list of one registered on Ashley Madison, said Nutter Administration spokesman Mark McDonald.

The city’s Office of Innovation and Technology is investigating the issue, said McDonald.

“City regulations make clear that employees are not supposed to use their computers and email addresses for non-work related activity like this,” said McDonald. “If it is determined that an employee did use his city resources improperly, then that employee would be subject to potential discipline.”

McDonald said the total number of “Phila.gov” addresses linked to the site could be in the double-digits.

Pennsylvania Office of Administration spokesman Dan Egan said Thursday the agency was investigating to see if anyone violated the state's policy regarding the use of technology in connection with the Ashley Madison site.

The state's policy prohibits the use of state computers or email to access sexual, pornographic or obscene material, said Egan. He said violations could result in discipline, including potential firings.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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