Iowa Lottery published sensitive data

Iowa Lottery operators have warned its customers and authorities that there has been a release of sensitive data.

US.- Sensitive information about Iowa Lottery’s customers has been accidentally released, according to an official statement published by the governmental gaming company last week. The leaked information is related to the Social Security numbers of some customers as well as prize winners from calendar year 2011.

“This release of sensitive data was unintentional,” Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich said. “On behalf of the entire lottery team, I apologize for this mistake. As we have said many times through the years, human involvement in any process means it will not be perfect. We are offering those impacted access to a credit-monitoring service and reviewing our procedures to identify improvements that can be made as we move ahead.”

The company explained that the leak was based on open-records request from Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, an assistant professor of journalism at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. The journalism professor had requested a list of all Iowa Lottery winners of $600 or more since the Iowa Lottery’s start in 1985.

“As soon as the lottery realised that some of its winners’ Social Security numbers had been released, we began work to address the issue,” Rich said. “This incident reminds us that we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to protect sensitive information. It is imperative that we continue to monitor and check any information we provide in our daily work as Iowa Lottery employees.”