A concerning dataset tied to Tesla, the electric car maker, has surfaced in reports about the personal data of high-profile figures and thousands of employees. Among the items described is a social security number, a number historically used in the United States as a de facto national identifier. The information was reported by a German newspaper, Handelsblatt, drawing attention to the broader implications for privacy and corporate security.
The publication describes a massive data haul that a Tesla insider allegedly provided to reporters. The claimed cache spans roughly 100 gigabytes and is said to include more than 100,000 names, salaries of current and former Tesla workers, as well as contact details for customers and a variety of product specifics related to the company. The breadth of the data suggests a level of exposure that could complicate internal controls and risk management for the automaker.
Handelsblatt also noted a significant number of customer complaints tied to product or service issues. The paper asserted that Tesla employees are expected to log complaints verbally rather than maintain written records, a practice that may hinder traceability and accountability within quality assurance workflows. The absence of formal written documentation could complicate investigations and remediation efforts if data integrity is questioned.
The publication warned that such a leak might trigger scrutiny under European data protection laws, potentially resulting in substantial fines for Tesla if violations are confirmed. In the narrative, a Tesla lawyer attributed responsibility to an aggrieved former employee, who is described as having a role in the breach and the subsequent leakage of information. The report emphasizes the potential regulatory consequences and the reputational risk that can accompany data-security lapses.
Separately, early reports from The Verge highlighted Salesforce-strong demand for a popular model in the automotive market. In the first quarter of 2023, the Tesla Model Y reportedly achieved the top position as the world’s best-selling vehicle across all car segments, underscoring the brand’s global impact and the high stakes involved in safeguarding its proprietary information as the company continues to scale its operations.