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Hotmail releases users’ data without permission

OUT-LAW News, 17/07/2000

A security fault on Friday led to personal data held by Microsoft through its Hotmail system being inadvertently sent to advertisers. It is believed that information on as many as one million Hotmail customers may have been released against their wishes.

The distribution was triggered when Hotmail users read e-mails displaying a banner advertisement. In response to Friday’s events, Microsoft has stressed that it “places the highest priority on consumer privacy and security... The error is common on the internet and is not specific to Microsoft”.

In the UK, such a leak of personal data would potentially breach the data protection principles in the Data Protection Act 1998.

 

 

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