Williams, Colleagues Urge Federal Investigation into Canvas Cyberattack, Call for Stronger Cybersecurity Support for Schools

WASHINGTON D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined Representatives Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Eugene Simon Vindman (VA-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mike Thompson (CA-04), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), and Betty McCollum (MN-04) in sending a letter to the Department of Justice and Department of Education urging a full investigation into the recent cyberattack targeting Instructure and its subsidiary, Canvas, and calling for expanded cybersecurity resources for schools.

Canvas, a widely used online learning platform serving millions of students, educators, and institutions nationwide, was targeted in a cyberattack that disrupted access to coursework during final exams and raised concerns about the security of student and faculty data.

The Members wrote:

“We write to urge the Department of Justice to take swift action to investigate, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, the cyber-attack perpetrated against Instructure, and its subsidiary, Canvas…This appears to be the culmination of an ongoing cyber-attack against Instructure–wherein the company was initially breached on May 1st. By May 3rd, Shiny Hunters claimed to have breached 275 million users’ data across nine thousand schools. While it appears that most students regained access by May 8th, this incident highlights the vulnerability of student, faculty, and staff data, and demands thorough investigation.”

The Members also emphasized the need for stronger cybersecurity protections across the education system.

“This beach left schools in the lurch, having to act urgently to attempt to protect their students’ data…With so much learning happening online, it is imperative that schools have the resources they need to maintain their student and faculty data privacy.”

Read the full letter here.