Vodafone sent the phone details of 1,700 News UK journalists to the Metropolitan Police, which had requested the records of just one reporter under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
The police required the information regarding journalists who were Vodafone customers between 2005 and 2007 - under the controversial RIPA rules and as part of Operation Elveden, which entails an inquiry into alleged payments to public officials in return for information.
The Internet Service Provider (ISP) blamed human error for the mistake while the Met claims to have sent the excess data – originally sent to the force in March – back to the company. A Vodafone spokesman said that the company urged Scotland Yard to delete the data, and the Met in turn agreed to use it for “a policing purpose, when it is in the interests of justice to do so.”
It also informed the Interception of Communications Commissioner's Office of the error on 27 June.
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