Microsoft failed to tell Hotmail users the Chinese government was reading their emails

Microsoft failed to tell users of its free webmail service, Hotmail, that their private communications had been compromised, after discovering that Chinese authorities had hacked into more than 1,000 accounts.

The hack, which reportedly occurred several years ago, targeted international leaders of China’s Tibetan and Uighur minorities. However, Microsoft decided not to tell the victims, allowing the hackers to continue their campaign, former employees told Reuters .