Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Data Breach Lawsuit

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (the “Department”) has notified individuals about an inadvertent data breach that exposed personal information contained in the DCJIS Fingerprint Background Check Data Collection Form. This breach occurred on September 24, 2025, when the form was mistakenly shared with three individuals. If your information was involved, you may be entitled to compensation and are being provided with resources to protect your personal data.

Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care’s Data Breach Investigation

On September 24, 2025, the Department of Early Education and Care became aware that personal information from DCJIS Fingerprint Background Check Data Collection Forms was mistakenly shared with three individuals. This incident resulted in the unintended exposure of sensitive personal data.

The breach was due to an administrative error and did not involve any intentional malicious activity. However, the Department is providing this notification to inform affected individuals about the breach and the steps they can take to safeguard their information moving forward. The incident does not appear to have led to any misuse of the information, but the Department is offering resources to protect individuals affected by the breach.

What Information Was Involved?

The breach involved the following types of personal information, which were included in the DCJIS Fingerprint Background Check Data Collection Form:

• Name
• Address
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Fingerprint data

This sensitive information could potentially be used in identity theft or fraud if misused.

What You Can Do

To protect your personal information, you are advised to take the following steps:

1. Place a Security Freeze – You have the right to place a security freeze on your credit reports with the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This will prevent anyone from accessing your credit report without your written consent. However, please note that placing a security freeze may delay or interfere with the approval of loans, credit, mortgages, housing, and employment applications.
2. Obtain a Police Report – Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to file a police report related to this incident and obtain a copy of it. If you are a victim of identity theft, you can file a police report and request a copy as well.
3. Monitor Your Credit Reports – Regularly check your credit reports for signs of unauthorized activity. You are entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit bureaus.
4. Contact the Credit Reporting Agencies – To place a security freeze, you must contact the three major credit bureaus directly:You may place a security freeze online, over the phone, or by sending a written request via regular, certified, or overnight mail.

File a Data Breach Lawsuit Against Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care