• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechEssential Phone

Essential, the New Startup of Android Creator Andy Rubin, Just Made a Huge Privacy Slip-Up

By
David Meyer
David Meyer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
David Meyer
David Meyer
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 31, 2017, 4:33 AM ET

There’s a lot of excitement around Andy Rubin’s new smartphone company, Essential—the Android creator has the pedigree, more than $300 million in funding, and a $700 phone to sell.

However, Essential, which has been taking preorders for its new handset, just made a big slip-up. Earlier this week, it shared the personal details of dozens of its prospective customers with other customers—and we’re talking sensitive stuff, like their drivers’ licenses.

According to The Verge, Essential emailed those who placed preorders with a request for photo ID, in order to verify their orders.

While some recipients theorized on online forums that this was a phishing attempt, it appears the email was not a scam. However, it was very poorly handled, as everyone responding to the email found their reply going to the original email’s other recipients, too.

“I’m actually one of the people who unfortunately responded! And now my personal information is out there for everyone to see and use as they see fit! And this is not a scam this is in fact a major F up on Essential’s part!” read one typical comment on the Essential Reddit page.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

“Yesterday, we made an error in our customer care function that resulted in personal information from approximately 70 customers being shared with a small group of other customers,” Rubin wrote in a blog post.

He said Essential had added safeguards to make sure the incident wouldn’t be repeated, and offered the affected customers a year’s subscription to the identity theft protection service LifeLock.

“Being a founder in an intensely competitive business means you occasionally have to eat crow,” the former Google executive added. “It’s humiliating, it doesn’t taste good, and often, it’s a humbling experience. As Essential’s founder and CEO, I’m personally responsible for this error and will try my best to not repeat it.”

About the Author
By David Meyer
LinkedIn icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.