Tesla leak exposes data breaches and safety complaints extensively.

Whistleblower disclosures reveal issues with customer and employee data, driver assistance systems.

According to a Handelsblatt report, a whistleblower leaked 100 gigabytes of confidential data, unveiling Tesla’s insufficient protection of customer, employee, and business partner data. The disclosure outlined thousands of customer complaints about Tesla’s driver assistance system, with customer data extensively present in a dataset dubbed “Tesla Files.”

Handelsblatt notes that the leaked files contain tables with over 100,000 names of current and former Tesla employees, including sensitive details like CEO Elon Musk’s social security number. The data encompasses private email addresses, phone numbers, employee salaries, customer bank details, and confidential production information.

Reportedly violating GDPR, the breach, as described by the data protection office in Brandenburg, where Tesla’s European gigafactory is situated, is termed “massive.” Dagmar Hartge, the data protection officer, asserted that its scale is unprecedented. If proven, Tesla might face fines of up to 4% of its annual sales, reaching €3.26 billion ($3.5 billion). The leaked files also expose numerous customer complaints about Tesla’s driver assistance programs, including around 4,000 complaints of sudden acceleration or phantom braking.

German union IG Metall, labeling the revelations as “disturbing,” urged Tesla to inform its employees about any data protection breaches and cultivate a culture that promotes open communication regarding problems and grievances. Dirk Schulze, the incoming district manager for Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony, commented that these revelations align with their impressions gathered over the past two years.

The agency refrained from commenting on whether it has initiated or will initiate an investigation, citing its policy. The Dutch agency was informed about the breach by its counterpart in the German state of Brandenburg. While Handelsblatt reported that Tesla had notified the Dutch authorities about the breach, an AP spokesperson stated they were unaware of any representations made by the company to the agency. Tesla was unavailable for comment on Friday.