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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Virgin Media apologises for email distribution glitch | Virgin Media apologises for email distribution glitch |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Virgin Media has apologised after some of its customers received hundreds of unwanted emails because of a distribution list error. | Virgin Media has apologised after some of its customers received hundreds of unwanted emails because of a distribution list error. |
| Anyone clicking "reply all" to a recent customer services email was able to message everyone on the mailing list. | Anyone clicking "reply all" to a recent customer services email was able to message everyone on the mailing list. |
| The email was sent to inform customers of changes to Google services. | The email was sent to inform customers of changes to Google services. |
| The Information Commissioner's Office said it was looking into an "alleged breach" of data protection rules before deciding if action was necessary. | |
| Virgin Media said it was "investigating exactly what has happened", and confirmed no more replies were able to be sent. | |
| It said the problem related to a "sub set" of its virgin.net email customers, but it did not know the precise number affected. | |
| Although customers' addresses were not themselves shared, anyone pressing "reply all" and entering into the email chain exposed their own details to thousands of others - and the company urged people not to do so. | Although customers' addresses were not themselves shared, anyone pressing "reply all" and entering into the email chain exposed their own details to thousands of others - and the company urged people not to do so. |
| Some people reported receiving hundreds of emails, including spam messages and light-hearted exchanges between other customers. | Some people reported receiving hundreds of emails, including spam messages and light-hearted exchanges between other customers. |
| Bob Alexander, from Taunton, said he had suffered "a great deal of inconvenience and stress" after receiving more than 700 emails. | Bob Alexander, from Taunton, said he had suffered "a great deal of inconvenience and stress" after receiving more than 700 emails. |
| The 69-year-old told the BBC: "I am a quadriplegic and to delete 700 emails from my Blackberry handset has taken me all evening." | The 69-year-old told the BBC: "I am a quadriplegic and to delete 700 emails from my Blackberry handset has taken me all evening." |
| Virgin Media later said it had resolved the problem, which it said affected "a small proportion of our customers". | Virgin Media later said it had resolved the problem, which it said affected "a small proportion of our customers". |
| The initial email had been sent by one of the company's suppliers, the spokesman said. | The initial email had been sent by one of the company's suppliers, the spokesman said. |
| He added: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused." | He added: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused." |
| The Information Commissioner's Office said it had received a "number of calls" about a "possible data breach relating to emails sent out by Virgin Media". | |
| "We will be making enquiries into the circumstances of the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken," it said in a statement. |