Matt Weiss faces 24 charges in disturbing data breach scandal

In the United States, Matt Weiss, the former quarterbacks coach at the University of Michigan, faced serious legal repercussions stemming from his departure from the university in 2023. An indictment was filed against Weiss, outlining a series of severe charges linked to his activities from 2015 to 2023, which involved the unauthorized access of confidential student information. The charges included 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft, highlighting a pattern of behavior that targeted female college athletes across numerous institutions nationwide. Weiss acquired sensitive data from an estimated 100 schools, impacting the private information of over 150,000 students. Authorities alleged that Weiss had been conducting these criminal activities to gather private photographs and videos intended to remain within intimate relationships. His actions reportedly extended to accessing the social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of more than 3,300 individuals, of which he specifically compiled records on female students using inappropriate and sexually suggestive language. This alarming breach of privacy and security was traced back to the University of Michigan's Schembechler Hall, where Weiss operated during his tenure. The situation escalated when Michigan's on-campus police began an investigation into Weiss’s dubious conduct, which ultimately led to his being placed on administrative leave before his abrupt termination from the program. As the investigations wore on, acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck emphasized the aggressive approach that her office would undertake to prosecute those who compromise the privacy and security of citizens. She reaffirmed that the collaboration with law enforcement partners would be steadfast to bring violators to justice and protect individuals from illicit intrusions into their private lives. The impact of this case reverberates not only within the confines of the University of Michigan but throughout the athletics community, raising pressing questions about privacy, security, and the ethical responsibilities of individuals in positions of power. The developments from this case sparked significant public discourse regarding the protection of student data and the accountability of educational institutions in safeguarding sensitive information essential to their students' trust and safety.