BrewDog Founder Faces Data Privacy Complaints Over Emails

BrewDog founder James Watt is facing complaints to the UK's data privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), concerning his recent bid to repurchase the company. The complaints stem from emails Watt sent to "equity punks," individuals who had previously invested in BrewDog through crowdfunding schemes. These investors saw their shares become worthless earlier this year when BrewDog's brand, intellectual property, UK breweries, and 11 bars were sold to US firm Tilray for £33 million in March. The sale left more than 200,000 crowdfunding investors with devalued shares. Watt's surprise buy-back bid involved reaching out to these former investors, prompting questions about the source of his contact information. The ICO is now reportedly reviewing these complaints to determine if any data privacy regulations were breached in the process of contacting these individuals. This situation highlights potential issues surrounding the use of personal data obtained through past investment schemes, particularly when a company undergoes significant ownership changes and subsequent buy-back attempts. The Guardian has learned of these complaints, which could have implications for how companies manage and utilize data from their investor base in the future.