Whistleblower Suit Alleges Georgia Tech Violated Federal Contract
Georgia Institute of Technology Accused of Failing to Protect Research Network
Background
The United States government joined a whistleblower suit and filed a complaint-in-intervention against the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and its research arm, the Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC). The federal government alleges that Georgia Tech and GTRC violated the False Claims Act by failing to follow federal acquisition regulations and protect their research network from malware.
The complaint alleges that Georgia Tech and GTRC failed to install anti-malware solutions on a contractor's network, despite being required to do so by federal regulations. This led to a data breach that compromised the research network and sensitive government information.
Government's Allegations
The government's complaint alleges that Georgia Tech and GTRC:
- Violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to the government.
- Breached their contract with the government by failing to follow federal acquisition regulations.
- Negligently allowed a data breach that compromised sensitive government information.
Impact of the Data Breach
The data breach compromised the research network and sensitive government information, including:
- Research data
- Student records
- Financial information
- Intellectual property
The breach has caused significant damage to Georgia Tech's reputation and the government's research programs.
Government's Response
The government has taken several actions in response to the data breach, including:
- Filing a complaint-in-intervention in the whistleblower lawsuit.
- Conducting an investigation into the data breach.
- Taking steps to mitigate the damage caused by the breach.
The government is seeking to recover damages from Georgia Tech and GTRC for the False Claims Act violations and the data breach.
Georgia Tech's Response
Georgia Tech has denied the allegations and said that it has taken steps to improve its cybersecurity measures.
The case is ongoing.
Sources
- United States Intervenes in False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Georgia Institute of Technology
- GAO Report on Data Breach at Georgia Tech
- Georgia Tech Settles With U.S. Over Cyberattack During Trump Era
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