‘How’s this joker got my details?’: BrewDog founder faces complaints over emails to ‘equity punks’ | BrewDog

BrewDog founder James Watt, who sold the debt-laden “punk” brewer earlier this year, is the target of complaints to the UK’s data privacy watchdog in connection with his surprise bid to buy back the company, the Guardian has learned.

BrewDog’s brand, intellectual property, UK breweries and 11 bars were sold to US cannabis and drinks firm Tilray for £33 million in March; This deal rendered the shares of more than 200,000 crowdfunding investors worthless.

On Wednesday, Watt unexpectedly announced a plan to take back control of the beer company with the backing of 43,000 investors, dubbed “share bums,” through a new initiative called Second Best.

The bold offer involved Watt contacting thousands of shareholders and offering them “the exact same Second Best share you once had in BrewDog, for free.”

Multiple sources who received emails from Watt said they did not understand how his contact information was obtained; This has raised concerns about a possible breach of the general data protection regulation (GDPR), the strict rules that govern how organizations can collect, store and process personal data.

Watt denied any wrongdoing. “A communication was sent to my fellow shareholders at BrewDog on legal advice, using lawfully obtained data and in connection with their legitimate interests as shareholders,” he said. It did not disclose how shareholders’ contact information was obtained.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which regulates data privacy, has been asked to investigate by several former BrewDog shareholders who received messages from Watt.

The watchdog, which has the power to impose fines or force organizations to change their practices if it detects a violation of the GDPR, is currently assessing complaints.

Marc Knox, a former stock tramp, said he had written to Second Best with his concerns and was prepared to complain to the ICO, although he had not yet done so.

“I got the email last Sunday and had a bit of a laugh. I wasn’t planning on complaining but I spoke to a friend, looked online and saw lots of people saying the same thing: ‘How did this prankster get hold of my details?'”

The Guardian understands that neither Tilray nor AlixPartners, which manages the rest of BrewDog, has provided any such information to the self-styled “punk” brewer.

Ravi Naik, legal director at data protection specialist AWO, said that although it was not clear whether there had been a breach of privacy laws, the case raised important questions.

“I can understand why individuals would complain to the ICO,” he said. “There appear to be questions that need to be answered and the ICO should clarify whether they plan to take action on these complaints. The key questions are how the individuals who received the email were selected and whether the email campaign was lawful.”

A spokesperson for Tilray said the company “did not obtain Equity for Punks shareholder data as part of its acquisition of the BrewDog brand and assets; this system of record remains under the control of BrewDog plc (in administration).

“For the avoidance of doubt, Tilray Brands (trading as BrewDog) and its current management team have no involvement, connection or responsibility in the business activities of James Watt, including Second Best.

“Tilray Brands did not authorize, facilitate or participate in the communications reportedly sent to former Equity for Punks investors and did not authorize any data obtained to be used for these purposes.

“We take data privacy extremely seriously and can categorically confirm that no data held by Tilray Brands is shared with external organizations or former executives. All communications with our customer base are conducted in strict accordance with the GDPR.”

The ICO said it did not comment on individual cases but that all complaints were dealt with in line with its standard process.

The Guardian approached AlixPartners for comment.