Tesla, the electric car manufacturing giant led by visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk, has recently disclosed a significant data breach that exposed the personal information of more than 75,000 employees.

The breach, which has sent shockwaves through the tech and automotive industries, was allegedly orchestrated by two former Tesla employees who leaked this sensitive data to a foreign media outlet.

In this news article, we delve into the details of this incident, its implications, and Tesla's response.

The Data Breach Revelation

In a data breach notice filed with Maine's attorney general, Tesla confirmed that it had fallen victim to insider wrongdoing.

The investigation carried out by the company revealed that two former employees had misappropriated the personal information of 75,735 current and former Tesla employees. This trove of data included names, addresses, phone numbers, employment-related records, and even Social Security numbers.

Tesla's data privacy officer, Steven Elentukh, voiced his apprehensions, stating, "The investigation unveiled that two ex-Tesla employees had improperly acquired the data, breaching Tesla's IT security and data protection policies, and subsequently shared it with the media outlet."

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The Involvement of a Foreign Media Outlet

The breach took a more troubling turn when it was revealed that the stolen data had been shared with a foreign media outlet.

German newspaper Handelsblatt was identified as the recipient of this sensitive information. However, Handelsblatt assured Tesla that it had no intentions of publishing or misusing the data, citing legal restrictions.

The "Tesla Files" and Their Contents

The extent of the data breach became alarmingly clear when Handelsblatt reported in May that they had acquired over 23,000 internal documents, collectively referred to as the "Tesla Files." These files contained 100 gigabytes of confidential data, providing insights into Tesla's operations.

Employee details were among the wealth of information, including their personal data, employment records, and customer bank details.

Furthermore, the "Tesla Files" revealed production secrets closely guarded by the company, shedding light on the inner workings of Tesla's operations. Customer complaints about Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) features were also part of the breach.

Shockingly, the breach even included the leakage of Elon Musk's Social Security number, further adding to the gravity of the situation.

Tesla's Response and Legal Actions

Upon discovering the data breach, Tesla took immediate legal action against the individuals responsible for the wrongdoing. This resulted in the seizure of the former employees' electronic devices, ensuring that they could no longer access or disseminate the stolen data.

Tesla also obtained court orders preventing further use of the information, subjecting the former employees to potential criminal penalties.

A Troubling Pattern?

This data breach incident comes on the heels of a previous report by Reuters in April. The report revealed that Tesla employees had shared sensitive images captured by customer vehicles.

Between 2019 and 2022, it was reported that employees shared what was described as "invasive" images and videos recorded by the cars' cameras.

Final Words

The Tesla data breach underscores companies' growing challenge in safeguarding sensitive information from insider threats. As the investigation continues and legal proceedings unfold, the incident is a stark reminder of the importance of robust data security measures and the consequences of insider wrongdoing.

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