Email Sent To Wrong Address, Then Mis-Used

[akajonnyg]

Hi all. I have recently sent an email and attachment to the wrong person by mistake (totally my fault, but I am only human). The recipient then opened the email, read it, opened the attachment, read it and then contacted the intended recipient in order to try and solicit some work from them. No harm has been done and I realise that it was my mistake but when this happens to me (which it occassionally does) I contact the sender, then delete the email - which I feel is a much more professional way to deal with the situation.
Where do I stand legally, as I feel that this mis-sent email, although my mistake, was mis-used. The company do have a privacy policy that states any pesronal info will not be used?

Thanks, in advance for any help

[Old_Geezer]

I'm not an epert but I'd suspect data you sent out won't be covered. Sounds more of a moral issue than a legal one to me. But hey ! The experts may know differently. The law is a constant source of surprise.

[Old_Geezer]

EXPERT
as I typed

[Peter Pedant]

where do you stand legally - what ?

The problem as you have found with confidential information is that you can't says ' oops silly me can I have it back please ? '

If by negligent behaviour you have caused loss - then you would be liable.


In certain cases - nurses doctors lawyers -that with clinical information may not cause loss but can still cause trouble at the Nursing Midwifery Council, GMC

So be careful , much more careful next time.

[joko]

if all they took was an email address, then i'd say not much.

is this persons email address private or a company one?
could it be found by looking online or phoning up and asking?

anyone is allowed to contact a company.

[Nibble]

Did you send the email from a work address or your private one? If it was from work, we'd be in trouble with our Information Governance team for not checking the address before we sent it.