Government apologises for sharing email address of one of world’s richest men

The Government has apologised after accidentally sharing the email address of one of the world’s richest men in the run-up to a major global investment summit hosted by Britain.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) referred itself to the data protection watchdog over the error but the PA news agency has been told no further action will be taken.

Officials had sent an email about the investment summit next week without using blind carbon copy, meaning the contact details of several business leaders including Bernard Arnault were displayed to other recipients.

Mr Arnault, a French tycoon who founded and owns the luxury goods firm LVMH, has an estimated net worth of 182 billion dollars (£139 billion) and is currently ranked as the world’s fifth richest person by Forbes.

He is one of around 300 industry leaders invited to attend the Government’s International Investment Summit in London next Monday, where ministers will pitch the UK as a more attractive destination for business.

The DBT said the blunder, first reported by The Sun newspaper, had been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

A spokesperson said: “This was caused by an administrative human error, and we apologise to those affected.

“We take data protection very seriously, and we have referred this issue to the Information Commissioner’s Office.”

However, the ICO said it had closed the case after giving data protection advice to the department.

A spokesperson for the watchdog said: “We received a report from the Department for Business and Trade after an email was sent without using blind carbon copy.

“After reviewing the information provided, we provided data protection advice and closed the case with no further action.”