Following the mix-up over the Queen's New Year's Honors list, the Cabinet Office is quick to issue an apology to more than 1,000 people affected and assures that the information has been removed.
- December 30, 2019
AceShowbiz - British officials have been forced to apologise after mistakenly publishing the home addresses of more than 1,000 people, including Elton John and Olivia Newton-John, who were recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
Sir Elton has been named a Companion of Honour for services to music and charity, while Olivia has picked up a Damehood for services to charity, cancer research and entertainment.
Stars including Queen drummer Roger Taylor and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody were also named, alongside various Oscar-winning film directors, senior politicians and diplomats, popular athletes and people in sensitive defence roles.
However, in a shocking mix-up, the addresses of all the recipients were published late Friday, December 27 when the Cabinet Office posted the recipients of New Year's Honours.
A statement from the Cabinet Office read: "The information was removed as soon as possible. We apologise to all those affected and are looking into how this happened."
Officials said the individuals will be contacted about the error, with a spokesperson from the the Information Commissioner's Office confirming it was investigating "in response to reports of a data breach involving the Cabinet Office and the New Year's Honours list".
The non-departmental public body can impose fines for privacy violations.
