Officials in the United Kingdom were forced to apologize after the home addresses of more than 1,000 special honors recipients were published inadvertently.
The addresses were able to be viewed online for about an hour on Friday after the Cabinet Office published them, according to the Associated Press. Twice per year, the U.K. releases the names of those receiving honors for merit, service, or bravery: once around New Year’s Eve and once on the queen’s birthday in June.
Those published on this year’s list accidentally included the addresses to high-ranking politicians, celebrities, diplomats, and athletes. Included among them were singers Elton John and Olivia Newton-John. Directors Sam Mendes of American Beauty and Steve McQueen of 12 Years a Slave were also among the names.
In a statement, the Cabinet Office said that those on the list would be contacted about the unauthorized release.
“The information was removed as soon as possible,” the statement said. “We apologize to all those affected and are looking into how this happened.”
The Information Commissioner’s Office said it would examine the leak.
