Rowenna Davis, the Labour candidate for england/croydon/”>Croydon Mayor in the upcoming local elections, has issued an apology after her campaign inadvertently revealed the personal email addresses of Overover 300 supporters. The Breachbreach has raised concerns regarding the competence of her campaign team.
Details of the Breach
The incident occurred when an email invitation to a community meeting was sent out without using the blind copy (BCC) option, exposing recipients’ personal information to one another. Davis has referred herself to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) following the breach, which contravenes GDPR regulations and the 2018 Data Protection Act.
Reactions from Recipients
One recipient expressed their frustration, stating, “I didn’t ask to be put on this list. I’ve never agreed to Ms Davis or Croydon Labour to hold my personal details.” They noted the absence of an unsubscribe option, complicating the situation further.
Previous Issues within Croydon Labour
The data breach, while serious, is not the only issue facing Croydon Labour. Some members are currently under police investigation for manipulating membership address lists during the selection of a parliamentary candidate earlier this year.
Davis’s Response
In her initial communication sent at 7:16 PM on Wednesday, Davis invited community members to discuss her campaign with Croydon West MP Sarah Jones. Upon learning of the mishap, she responded two hours later, acknowledging the error and stating, “We immediately apologised.” An apology email was subsequently sent out at 10:25 PM, assuring recipients that the campaign was reviewing its procedures to prevent future breaches.
Davis concluded her apology by confirming that only email addresses were shared and thanked the recipients for their understanding.
For those who find their personal information misused, the ICO provides a platform for reporting such incidents:
