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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsESRB issues apology over email leak
by Mathew McCurley 
Jul 13th 2010 at 4:00PM
Yesterday, we learned that the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) accidentally emailed the names of people who had complained about Blizzard's potential use of Real ID names on the official Blizzard forums. The ESRB has since sent out this apology:
Yesterday we sent an e-mail to a number of consumers who wrote to us in recent days expressing their concern with respect to Blizzard's Real ID program. Given the large number of messages we received, we decided to respond with a mass e-mail so those who'd written us would receive our response as quickly as possible - rather than responding to each message individually, as is our usual practice.
Through an unfortunate error by one of our employees, some recipients were able to see the e-mail addresses of others who wrote on the same issue. Needless to say, it was never our intention to reveal this information and for that we are genuinely sorry. Those who write to ESRB to express their views expect and deserve to have their contact and personal information protected. In this case, we failed to do so and are doing everything we can to ensure it will not happen again in the future.
The fact that our message addressed individuals' concerns with respect to their privacy underscores how truly disappointing a mistake this was on our part. We work with companies to ensure they are handling people's private information with confidentiality, care and respect. It is only right that we set a good example and do no less ourselves.
We sincerely apologize to those who were affected by this error and appreciate their understanding.
Sincerely,
Entertainment Software Rating Board
Filed under: News items, Account Security
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
wondershot Jul 14th 2010 12:46AM
I hope not! Schlobs need jobs too!
Crimson Jul 14th 2010 1:45AM
I really hope he/she didn't get fired. :(
People make mistakes, we are only human after all.
Zohra Jul 13th 2010 4:16PM
I too was one who received the original email with all the other recipients emails attached. While I was annoyed, I knew at that point there wasn't much I could do about it except email them back and let them know. At this point I find it almost humorous, considering the circumstances.
Dude Jul 13th 2010 4:18PM
The bad news is Blizz know where to send the hitmen now. Thanks ESRB. Pigshead on the driveway is all down to you.
TR Jul 13th 2010 5:59PM
Umm... no beta invites I'm thinking....
/cry
(cutaia) Jul 13th 2010 4:21PM
"Thank you for writing the Center for Disease Control. Yesterday we sent a number of letters in response to concerns about flu season. Unfortunately, as you may have heard, these letters were infected with anthrax. Truly, this was a disappointing and ironic mistake on our behalf and we sincerely apologize for the error.
Sincerely,
Your friends at the CDC."
logicalfundy Jul 14th 2010 8:25AM
Unfortunately, this metaphor is really, really, bad. You can't attach anthrax to a letter by mistake. However, it is pretty easy to hit "reply all" to an email by mistake.
That being said, it is certainly a facepalm moment, and a pretty rookie mistake.
(cutaia) Jul 14th 2010 9:40AM
Fortunately, it's not a metaphor. It's just a joke about irony.
ZMES_Matt Jul 13th 2010 4:21PM
Oh ESRB, you try so hard...I just can't stop imagining that scene from Family Guy where Peter plans on breaking into a building and says "This is going to take a portion of my cunning.... No...ALL my cunning!" *proceeds to be stupid*
phoenixblight Jul 13th 2010 5:09PM
Think you are mixing the episode with the FCC which is a government agency that controls the radio where ESRB is not in anyway affiliated with the government. ESRB is actually an agency that is controlled by the gaming industry. Think MPAA only for video games.
Norai Jul 13th 2010 4:23PM
I'm on the email thread, and honestly, there's some funny conversation happening. Everyone is happy, and as far as i know I don't have any more spam because of it. We're all the people that CARED about our privacy, so I doubt any of us on the list would abuse that.
howell721 Jul 13th 2010 6:32PM
My grandfather used to say things like "if it'll get you punched in the face, don't say it." He also never taught me to hide in the shadows while spouting off insults.
I'm glad you can keep up the petty shenanigans that poisoned the forums since the first iteration without the fear that someone might be able to call you out personally when you've crossed a line. Congratulations on the win, and for gaining the concern of a video game rating commission...
peon47 Jul 13th 2010 5:48PM
It only takes one person from the 961....
Norai Jul 14th 2010 9:34AM
Howell, I was merely replying to those who were afraid of their information being 'stolen' off this list for spam emails and the like. All of us on the list were the ones who didn't want this to happen- and as a result, it hasn't. Everyone's being so friendly and nice, and sharing recipes. The only thing that came of it so far, for me, has been someone else off the email list from an organization I'm in sending me a personal email saying "I didn't know you played WoW too!".
(cutaia) Jul 14th 2010 9:47AM
"He also never taught me to hide in the shadows while spouting off insults."
Oh, that's a nice sentiment. Let's see what else you have to say...
"I'm glad you can keep up the petty shenanigans that poisoned the forums"
Oh...
Did your grandfather say anything about spouting off insults while hiding in shadowy gray comment boxes?
Phelps Jul 13th 2010 4:26PM
I missed it on yesterday's thread, but now I have to wonder... how much impact DID the ESRB complaints have? I specifically cited that forum.worldofwarcraft.com was one of the sites listed as a "certified" site for privacy. I can't help but think that it could have been the deciding factor. If the ESRB decided to yank them off the list, that would have been terribly damaging publicity beyond everything else we had.
Ani Jul 13th 2010 4:31PM
As someone in a profession that is required to send out a lot of emails to a lot of people, I know how incredibly easy it is to make such a simple mistake.
My heart goes out to the poor person that hit the send button. I am sure he/she feels like a fool and is concerned about keeping their job. I truely hope they don't fire the person for accidently putting people on the To: line instead of the BCC: line.
Brett Jul 13th 2010 4:53PM
I too am in a line of work where something so simple can turn out so disastrous. I doubt he got fired, as everyone is human, and no one is perfect.
Really I think it's more a matter of policy, rather than that of a person. Who decides to just copy and paste email addresses into a TO: or BCC: field? They should have better email contact software than just "good" ole Outlook.
Hopefully that will be one of the ways they will work to prevent something similar from happening in the future, having a better contact management system.
scherbaddie Jul 13th 2010 11:51PM
What email software has AI good enough to detect when an email should or should not be sent to a BCC list instead of a To list? Do we really need another Skynet?
They stated in the email that the way they sent this particular email was an exception to their policy of "responding to each message individually, as is our usual practice"
Keen Jul 13th 2010 4:34PM
As it was with the real name frivolity, this has also turned out to be no big deal. Leave it up to the mob mentality to blow anything out of proportion.
As an aside, it was also the people who cared about privacy that exposed the Blizzard rep simply to make a point. Pot and kettle right there.