To give an opposing view, as an applicant, I personally didn't feel there was any privacy breach. Everyone that applied knew they were applying to the entire co

To give an opposing view, as an applicant, I personally didn't feel there was any privacy breach. Everyone that applied knew they were applying to the entire conglomerate of YC companies, so when one sends a nice email, thanking all the applicants, there really should be no privacy issue. If anything, sending a more official looking email, explaining what it was for instead of just a transaction could have preempted any concerns.