Bloomberg's top editor calls client data policy "inexcusable"

NEW YORK: Matthew Winkler, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, apologized on Monday for allowing journalists "limited" access to sensitive data about how clients used Bloomberg terminals, saying it was "inexcusable", but that important customer data had always been protected.

His statement came as several U.S. and international government agencies looked into any possible breaches in the confidentiality of their usage data. The European Central Bank, Brazil's central bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve all said they were examining the matter. A source briefed on the situation said the Treasury Department was looking into the question as well.