BP Loses Laptop With 13k Spill Claimants Personal Info

(Posted on 31/03/11)

BP announced this week that it had lost a laptop that contained a spreadsheet with the names, social security numbers and other private information of more than 13,000 oil spill claimants. Its statement said, "Despite a thorough search, the laptop has unfortunately not been located". It was reported right away to law enforcement, both in the U.S. and the UK as well as its own security teams and legal teams.

It doesn't appear any of the information has been compromised; however, BP Deepwater Horizon officials did say it had notified anyone who was affected and is providing free credit monitoring services that would "mitigate any data loss or theft". Further, American media is reporting all 13,000 appear to be Louisiana residents, which has by far suffered more loss than the other gulf states, including Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

BP's legal teams are reiterating that all of the information was password protected, but was not encrypted. Along with social security numbers, claimants phone numbers and addresses were in the spreadsheet as well. The lawyers also say no one will have to resubmit any claims due to the lost data.

The laptop was lost March 1 during routine business travel and BP says it believes the laptop was lost and if it was stolen after that, it was a "crime of opportunity".

American reporters asked company reps why it took nearly a month to announce the lost data and the reply was that the oil giant was doing its own internal investigations and searches in an effort to ensure unnecessary alarm didn't occur.

Beau Weber, a Louisiana fishing guide, is one of the claimants whose information was in the lost laptop. He said, "It's terrible. I kinda work hard for the things I have. I wouldn't want somebody with a computer to be able to take it from me. It's very disturbing. It's like another gallon of gas thrown on the fire".