Mobile service provider Three UK admitted it recently experienced a technical issue due to which it accidentally leaked user data. The wireless carrier said it’s investigating the incident and asked all customers who suspect they’ve been affected by the issue to contact its customer service representatives, The Guardian reports. The problem reportedly manifested itself several days ago when a number of Three UK’s customers logged into their accounts and realized they were able to see personal data from the company’s other customers, including names, phone numbers, call histories, and addresses. One customer even publicly contacted Three UK via Facebook and described the issue as “shocking,” urging the company to explain how something like this could have happened, a sentiment that was mimicked by numerous other individuals.
For the time being, Three UK confirmed it’s aware of the issue but noted that it’s only affecting “a small number of customers” who recently logged into their MY3 accounts. While the Hutchinson-owned company said it’s investigating the incident, it remains unclear how long its probe will take to be completed or whether the firm is already planning some way to remedy the issue. On a somewhat more positive note, Three UK’s compromised users didn’t have their financial details leaked, the company confirmed. While the British carrier may be conducting its internal investigation into the matter, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is apparently planning to do the same, as a spokeswoman for the agency told The Guardian the regulator will inspect the incident shortly. Like any other company, Three UK is required to keep personal information of its customers secure by law, so even an accidental data breach could spell trouble for the company as it could be grounds for a fine. Given the ICO’s latest statement, the agency will certainly keep that in mind when investigating the incident.
Apart from some consumers, Three UK also recently angered Google following the company’s surprising decision to start blocking mobile ads on its network. An update on the data breach outlined above will likely follow shortly, especially if the ICO decides to open an official investigation into the matter.