Service Nova Scotia plans to ban the sending of bulk e-mails after the accidental release of personal information a couple of weeks ago.

A student-loan collection officer with the department sent an e-mail on June 8, entitled Defaulted Nova Scotia Government Guaranteed Student Loans — New Contact Name. The notice, which went to all of her clients, informed them that a co-worker of hers was going to be handling her cases.

But the officer sent it as a mass e-mail and as a result displayed more than 270 addresses that should have been kept confidential.

"It was certainly unintentional and we do apologize," Donna Chislett, spokeswoman for the department, said Friday. "The e-mail shouldn’t have gone out."

Ms. Chislett said department staff will continue to be educated about protecting personal information. As well, the department is looking at changing the computer system to make it impossible to send out mass e-mails...

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