The Privacy of Private Messages

This week, an unfortunate news story broke in one of the less reputable newspapers; it rapidly became clear that the information had come from private messages, and was leaked by an individual at the Ministry who had been entrusted with access.

This violation of privacy is utterly unacceptable. The individual responsible, Theodolphus Higgs, was identified, punished, and sacked. Those at the Ministry who have access to the private messages are expected to treat this as a sacred trust; they have this access so that they can keep an eye out for criminal activity. They are not to use their position of privilege to nose into others' private lives or to indulge idle curiosity; they are most certainly not permitted to gossip.

I believe that I have made things sufficiently clear that this will not happen again. The Ministry takes the privacy of loyal subjects extremely seriously.

My sincerest apologies to the entire Urquhart family.