ESRB accidentally releases email addresses of Real ID complainants

In an ironic turn of events this evening, it appears that the Entertainment Software Ratings Board has revealed the entire list of email addresses belonging to people who appealed to the ESA's rating group over Blizzard's recently proposed and then retracted Real ID implementation. According to our World of Warcraft-focused sister site WoW.com, the ESRB issued a response letter to the nearly 1,000 folks who had emailed with complaints about Blizzard's decision -- unfortunately, it seems that rather than hide everyone's email addresses, someone hit "reply all."

We've dropped the letter itself beyond the break, which, as WoW.com points out, concludes with a statement espousing the ESRB's "Privacy Online" program. Whoops! All that said, mistakes will happen from time to time. Unlike Blizzard, however, the ESRB can't simply take this back.

"Thank you for contacting the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) regarding the policy recently announced by Blizzard Entertainment which would have required participants in its official forums to post comments using their real first and last names, and for expressing your concerns regarding potential privacy implications.

It is our understanding that Blizzard has provided an update announcing that it will not be implementing the above-referenced policy with respect to its forums, and users will not be required to post using their real names. You can read Blizzard's announcement regarding this most recent development at http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25968987278&sid=1&pageNo=1.

Separately, if you have questions regarding Blizzard's implementation of its Real ID option -- which by our understanding is unrelated to Blizzard's plans for its forums -- and/or the new capabilities this option offers, they will likely be answered by reviewing the information posted at http://www.battle.net/realid/.

ESRB, through its Privacy Online program, helps companies develop practices to safeguard users' personal information online while still providing a safe and enjoyable video game experience for all. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us with your concerns, and please feel free to direct any future inquiries you may have regarding online privacy to our attention.

Regards,

Entertainment Software Rating Board"

Reader Comments (47)

WHAT DA WAA?!

They are showing everyone what RealID is going to be like by releasing everyone's personal info.

WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAA?

The ESRB violated the privacy of the very people who were the most afraid of having their privacy violated.

How ironic

[/Simpsons]

@Kyammi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZfuo0oCfE

@Vcize

I like this one more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY_amJ0YZrM

@Kyammi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgAA-sGG_pk

Anyone else smell lawsuit?

(A kinda odourless thing, but you just know its there.)

@(Unverified)

There most likely wont be an repercussions, but if I was part of that email list, I would totally hit the reply all button and type "A/S/L?" for kicks.

HEYOOOO! the world needs to be ironic more often. the results are hilarious.

@(Unverified) You shame the name unverified.

Irony.

this is irony right?

right?

@BrianH

The use of words expressing something other than their literal INTENTION.

Now THAT
IS
IRONY!

@Falcon6
You don't just have your characters ANNOUNCE how they feel!

That makes me feel angry!!

I can't even comment on the awesomeness of this.

@(Unverified)

Don't insult yourself like that. Any twit that has a corporate job and can't handle using the damn 'bcc' function on something like this doesn't deserve to be employed there. Good lord.

Sweet sweet irony. I love you. You bring so much laughter into my life.

wow just wow.

This reminds me of when one of my old companies I used to work for was having one of their national sales conferences coming up, and a mass email was sent out to everyone asking what size they needed in the branded jackets they'd be giving out. One of our practice directors in WA, Brian, god bless 'em, hit reply all stating that he would "definitely need one of the XXL jackets"

Haha!

Awesome!

A nice punchy "BAM!" sound effect would go well with that article. Oh, sweet irony, how you continue to amuse. May you never stop at the magic you do.

Haha.

"Privacy@esrb.org"

It's moment's like these that make me wonder how we have survived as a species

And people think the Lord doesn't have a sense of humor.

Horribly ironic.

These things happen though. Happens all the time at the college I work for. I actually have the same first initial and last name as one of the provosts at our college, and therefore a very similar email address, and I get privileged stuff meant for him at times. The last one was a spreadsheet detailing the next semesters budget for the entire campus.

Not exactly something a lowely part time IRT is supposed to see X_X.

hehehehehehe.................awesome :)

I literally had to cover my eyes and let out an "ooooh!"

This is bad, you guys. I feel bad for these guys.

Bawhahahahahahahahaaa!!!

RELEASE THE LAWSUITS!

IRONY!

Really though, would I be worried about someone that has my email address? They can spam me all they want the messages would just be going to my junkmail box.

Although, some email is linked to profiles where the real name is available and from that I guess they could track you down. Still a stretch though.

The end of a looooong Monday for some poor soul.

I'm pretty sure no one has been successfully sued for failing to use BCC, but I wish they could at least be flogged for the inevitable "Oops, sorry everyone! Not enough coffee!" message that comes immediately afterward.

I remember back in 2002 when my University did the same thing with... I kid you not... 14,000 official student emails that are also our login usernames. "Why is this 10 line message over a megaby.... oh dear."

Irony...sometimes it's ironic.

Hahahaha. Serves them right.

@(Unverified) Is unverified some sort of ancient title passed down throughout the ages?

This is hilarious!

Good, most of them are probably trolls anyway.

See, complaining on the internet actually DOES do something occasionally....apparently that something being your email address released for all to see.

Particularly delicious irony.

'epic fail' doesn't even begin to describe this.

NEWS IS DELICIOUS

FREEDOM! HORRIBLE HORRIBLE FREEDOM!

I'm on that list. :(

@Cypher FDP yes it is.

Wait, why were these people messaging the ESRB in the first place? What does a message board have to do with the ESRB?

@pfranzen Re-read article.

Quote:
"ESRB, through its Privacy Online program, helps companies develop practices to safeguard users' personal information online while still providing a safe and enjoyable video game experience for all."

I missed that the first time I read it as well.

@GumbyX Aha! TY; I must've skimmed over that part.

@pfranzen So did the ESRB employee, apparently.

@(Unverified)
Leave.
No, don't ask "leave what?" just please assume I mean leave everything.
It would be preferable if you could somehow find a way to stop existing but I'm not picky.

World of Warcraft

ESRB accidentally releases email addresses of Real ID complainants

Reader Comments (47)

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:12PM jeffm227 said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 1:30PM Cobra4455 said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:13PM s ls said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:14PM Kyammi said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:51PM Vcize said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:19AM Reddjoey said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 9:09AM RyogaVee said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:16PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:14AM Bahamett said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:16PM Lambrick said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:18PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:18PM BrianH said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:23PM Falcon6 said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 4:34AM xJimmeh said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:23PM Ashkental said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:24PM MarkezJM said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:25PM Foetoid said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:26PM edge426 said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:27PM MarkezJM said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:28PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:29PM Nitrammn said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:32PM Sleeping Lesson said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:34PM Deschain said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:40PM OnToGloryReturns said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:40PM R Planteer said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:41PM Irvine032188 said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:43PM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jul 12th 2010 11:53PM Uracat said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:03AM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:12AM Lerkero said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:18AM Solar Jetman said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:25AM 01 said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:27AM dariusdetiger said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 12:38AM Cypher FDP said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 1:15AM Diodax said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 1:43AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 1:53AM Verrier said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 2:08AM jinxy said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 2:14AM Tez said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 2:51AM MrCheeks said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 4:10AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 6:56AM Unvrfd said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 7:50AM pfranzen said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 9:58AM GumbyX said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 10:00AM pfranzen said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 8:15PM Vaitork said

Posted: Jul 13th 2010 9:26AM original fred said

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