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Tesla data breach, attributed to “insider wrongdoing,” affected 75,000 people
A data leak that occurred in May at Tesla Inc. affected more than 75,000 people, including records related to company employees, and was the result of “internal wrongdoing,” according to a notice published Friday by the office of the Maine Attorney General.
In total, 75,735 people were affected by the data breach, including nine residents of the state of Maine. The case appears to involve current or former employees of the Austin, Texas-based automaker.
“According to a copy of Tesla’s letter dated August 18 accompanying the breach notification, on May 10, 2023, a foreign media outlet (called Handelsblatt) informed Tesla that it had obtained confidential Tesla information.” “The investigation revealed that two former Tesla employees unlawfully appropriated this information in violation of Tesla’s IT security and data protection policies and provided it to the media.”
The letter further states that Tesla filed lawsuits against the two former employees, without specifying the jurisdiction. As a result of the legal proceedings, electronic devices allegedly containing company information were seized, the letter says.
“Tesla also obtained court orders prohibiting the former employees from further use, access, or distribution of the data, with criminal penalties for violations,” the letter states. “Tesla cooperated with law enforcement and external forensic experts and will continue to take appropriate steps as necessary.”
Steve Elentukh, Tesla’s data privacy officer, did not immediately respond to an email request for comment on Sunday.
Based on Bloomberg materials