MONROVIA – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has confirmed that personal data circulating on social media in connection with the Government’s Save the Future Project are authentic records maintained by the Ministry, while acknowledging that their public disclosure was never authorized.
The disclosure by the Ministry on Sunday, September 13, 2026, places fresh attention on the protection of sensitive information held by government institutions, particularly records involving vulnerable children receiving social protection assistance.
In a public clarification, the Ministry said it conducted an internal verification of the information circulating online and determined that the records were genuine and associated with the Save the Future Project.
But the Ministry drew a clear distinction between authenticity and authorization, stressing that the fact that the information is genuine does not mean it was approved for public release.
The Ministry said it “unequivocally rejects” claims circulating with the data that the records represent a compilation of survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
According to the Ministry, that description is false and misrepresents the nature of the records.
The MGCSP explained that the information concerns children who sell or seek solicitation on the streets and who are being identified, removed from street situations and supported under the Government’s Save the Future Project.
The clarification comes as the unauthorized circulation of the records raises questions about how confidential information held by public institutions is secured, accessed and transferred between government agencies and external partners.
The Ministry acknowledged that it manages a large volume of confidential and sensitive information through its social protection programs and said it is fully aware of its responsibilities under Liberia’s Data Protection and Privacy Act and other applicable safeguards governing private information.
The Ministry’s admission that the records are authentic, while simultaneously saying their publication was unauthorized, has made the circumstances surrounding the disclosure a central issue in its newly announced investigation.
The MGCSP said it has launched a comprehensive internal investigation to determine precisely how the information left the Ministry’s authorized custody and control.
The investigation, according to the Ministry, is intended to establish the circumstances surrounding the disclosure and ensure accountability.
The Ministry also addressed its relationship with funding partners and other institutions involved in the Save the Future Project.
It acknowledged sharing collated statistics and supporting information with key funding partners for purposes including verification, monitoring, accountability and program implementation.
However, the Ministry stressed that such sharing did not amount to authorization for the publication, reproduction or public dissemination of personal information contained in the records.
That distinction could become important as the investigation seeks to establish where responsibility lies for the disclosure.
The Ministry said it will strengthen internal controls and reinforce existing safeguards while also engaging partners and donors to ensure information shared in connection with its programs is treated with the highest degree of confidentiality.
The Ministry further pointed to its participation in the validation of Liberia’s Data Protection and Privacy legal framework, saying that involvement demonstrates its commitment to responsible data governance and should not be interpreted as support for practices that undermine the law.
The MGCSP expressed regret over the unauthorized circulation and acknowledged that the disclosure could raise legitimate concerns over privacy, confidentiality and the protection of beneficiaries.
The controversy is particularly sensitive because the affected records concern children described by the Ministry as vulnerable and in need of government intervention.
The Ministry therefore faces the task of determining not only how the information was released but also whether its existing systems and safeguards were sufficient to prevent unauthorized access or dissemination.
The Government institution has assured beneficiaries, the public, development partners and other stakeholders that it takes the protection and responsible management of personal information seriously.
The Ministry’s investigation is now expected to provide greater clarity on how the records moved outside authorized custody and whether additional corrective measures will be required.
The disclosure also puts renewed focus on the need for government agencies, donors and implementing partners to establish clear boundaries around the collection, sharing, storage and publication of sensitive beneficiary information.
While the Ministry maintains that the records were not a list of SGBV survivors, its confirmation that they contain authentic information concerning vulnerable children makes the privacy issue no less serious.
The MGCSP says it will take the necessary measures to strengthen its data protection controls and ensure that information entrusted to the Government through social protection programs receives the confidentiality required under applicable law.
See more Liberia News Network stories in Google Search by adding LNN as one of your Preferred Sources.
★ Add LNN as a Preferred Source