The Matt Weiss indictment reveals the staggering extent of privacy invasions involving thousands of female athletes, spotlighting a critical need for greater measures to protect personal data.
Quick Takes
- Matt Weiss, former coach, charged with hacking thousands of athletes’ accounts.
- Charges span unauthorized computer access, identity theft over eight years.
- Lawsuit filed against Weiss and University of Michigan for negligence.
- Weiss released on $10,000 bond, faces potential prison time.
The Scope of Allegations
Matt Weiss, once a prominent assistant coach for both the Baltimore Ravens and the University of Michigan, is at the center of a federal indictment encompassing charges of privacy breaches and aggravated identity theft. Accusations include unauthorized access to over 3,300 female athletes’ computer accounts, spanning multiple states. Weiss’s alleged misconduct continued for years, ceasing only when he was dismissed in 2023.
The indictment claims that Weiss specifically targeted female college athletes by school affiliation, athletic background, and physical traits, aiming to acquire private photos and videos. His actions involve penetrating databases of over 100 educational institutions to retrieve and download sensitive personal data of more than 150,000 athletes.
Two more former University of Michigan female athletes have filed a class-action lawsuit against the university, its board of regents & former OC Matt Weiss after Weiss was indicted on complaints of accessing intimate photos of thousands of students.
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— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) March 27, 2025
Legal Actions and Consequences
Weiss faces multiple federal charges for unauthorized computer access and identity theft from 2015 until early 2023. The charges allege over 2,000 student-athletes’ and 1,300 alumni accounts nationwide were jeopardized. Weiss, arraigned on these counts, has pleaded not guilty. Despite not being charged with distributing or extorting the compromised data, he remains out on a $10,000 unsecured bond, confronting potential prison sentencing if convicted.
A class action lawsuit has been filed involving Weiss and the University of Michigan, asserting the university neglected to supervise his actions adequately. The complaint, seeking class-action status, could involve over 1,000 potential members, underscoring the extensive scale of this privacy breach. Lawyers for the plaintiffs aim to hold the University responsible for its alleged oversight failures.
Weiss is accused of downloading intimate photos and videos after hacking accounts of female athletes. https://t.co/4JiikYJ6jY pic.twitter.com/muK3D4aBAQ
— FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) March 27, 2025
Impact on the University and Beyond
The University of Michigan, already embroiled in past privacy controversies, faces criticism and legal repercussions over this latest data breach scandal. The lawsuit points to negligence on the part of the university and associated parties like Keffer Development Services, which maintained sensitive databases. Attorney Parker Stinar highlighted the breach of trust experienced by plaintiffs and others whose privacy was compromised.
This case not only impacts Weiss’s reputation and career but also questions the vigilance and accountability of educational institutions in safeguarding personal and private information of individuals associated with them. The ongoing litigation will likely set a precedent in addressing digital privacy and the responsibilities of those who manage and oversee sensitive digital databases.
Sources:
- Former NFL coach pleads not guilty over alleged hacking of athletes’ intimate photos | NFL | The Guardian
- Alleged victim in former Michigan coach hacking case speaks out: ‘They have betrayed me’ – ABC News
- Lawsuit filed against former Michigan coach in alleged hacking case – ABC News
