Pulitzer prize-winning science journalist Laurie Garrett attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and sent an informal email about the conference to a few of her friends. The subjects of conversation at the WEF were interesting and provocative enough that the email was forwarded to friends of friends. Within two weeks, Laurie's letter was on the web and gathering a great deal of unwanted and unexpected attention.

James Grimmelman's lengthy treatment of the leak on LawMeme, Accidental Privacy Spills: Musings on Privacy, Democracy, and the Internet, is worth a read.