Tax Office Computer Servers Found by Trash

A maintenance man found two computer servers – labeled “PROPERTY OF D.C. OFFICE OF TAX AND REVENUE” – on the morning of February 6, 2008. The servers were discovered next to a trash compactor in Columbia Heights.

Computer servers are used to manage networks that are usually shared throughout a department or company. These computers, usually weighing 50 pounds or more, can store a multitude of databases, personal information, or other important records.

Federal authorities are investigating whether these two computer servers are linked to the D.C. corruption scandal. Among the 10 people arrested, two former tax office employees were included in the scandal.

Mike Teller, chief information officer for the office of the Chief Financial Officer, said that he has yet to find out whether confidential information was at risk. “It’s outrageous,” said Leslie Harris, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology. “This is a tremendous failure in respecting privacy and security.”

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