Yesterday, in the elevator, I had a conversation with a neighbour.
A kind, thoughtful man. Fully capable. Fully engaged in this community.
I asked him:
“Are you worried about your financial information being compromised?”
He looked at me, confused.
“What do you mean?”
I asked if he had seen the notice.
He said no.
I mentioned the message- the one sent months after the incident.
Then he paused.
“Oh… that. Yes, I got it.”
Got it.
But didn’t understand what it meant.
📩 And That’s the Problem
This isn’t about whether a message was sent.
It was.
This is about whether it was understood.
Because when a resident can receive a notice about a financial data breach and not realize the seriousness of it…
That’s not a reading problem.
That’s a communication failure.
⏳ Seven Months Late – and Still Not Clear
Let’s not ignore the obvious.
The notice went out seven months after the incident.
By then:
- urgency was gone
- context was missing
- impact was blurred
And instead of clear, direct explanation, residents received something that looked official… but said very little in plain language.
🧠Know Your Audience
This building is not a corporate office.
It’s a community.
With:
- retirees
- busy families
- people who are not expected to interpret legal or technical notices
And yet, the communication assumed exactly that.
That everyone would read it, interpret it, and understand the implications.
That assumption is not just wrong.
It’s irresponsible.
🧾 “We Informed Residents”
No doubt, the board can say:
✔️ A notice was sent
✔️ Residents were informed
But let’s be precise.
Sending information is not the same as ensuring understanding.
If even one reasonable resident walks away unaware of the seriousness of a data breach…
Then the communication failed.
🪞 What Should Have Happened
If this were handled properly, residents would have received:
- clear, plain-language explanation
- direct statement of risk
- simple guidance: what this means for you, what to do next
- follow-up communication to ensure awareness
Not a delayed notice that blends into the background of everyday emails.
🧨 The Real Risk
The risk isn’t just the breach.
It’s this:
A building where critical information is delivered in a way that people don’t fully understand.
Because when that happens, residents are not protected.
They are simply… documented.
🎠Final Thought
This was not a failure of residents.
It was a failure of communication.
And in a community setting, that responsibility sits exactly where it should:
With those who chose to send the message – and stop there.
