EU data protection law reforms in twenty bullets
Following the surprise, pre-Christmas announcement that EU data protection reforms were at last close to being finalised, what are twenty of the most important changes? Stephen Groom summarises.
All Articles in Direct marketing
Face Forward 2016: What will be the key marketing law milestones of the year to come?
At Osborne Clarke’s 17th “Look Back, Face Forward” marketing law forum on 2 December 2015, Jude King and Stephen Groom made their predictions. Catch their slides here.
ICO crackdown on list brokers
As part of its campaign against nuisance callers, the ICO is writing to over 1,000 companies who buy and sell people’s names and numbers. They will be invited to explain how they comply with data protection laws. Thomas Spanyol reports.
ICO on the spamming warpath again
The UK data privacy watchdog has taken further enforcement action against nuisance texters, this time issuing penalties totalling £250,000 in quick succession against “UKMS Money Solutions” among others. George Garrard reports
California court resurrects unauthorised tracking claims against Google
Now the subject of UK litigation involving claimants Judith Vidal Hall & others, difficulties faced by Google after employees developed a “workaround” that thwarted “do not track” software have revived in the US. Sara McDiamond reports.
Asset purchase deal irks Bavarian data regulator
The Bavarian Data Protection Authority has imposed a five figure fine on both seller and purchaser over alleged unlawful transfers of customer email addresses in an asset purchase deal. Barney Sich reports.
ICO uses new powers for the first time and imposes £200,000 fine on nuisance text marketer Help Direct UK Ltd in a case “with no mitigating factors”
Following the scrapping of the “substantial damage or substantial distress” requirement for imposing fines of up to £500,000 for spamming, the ICO has found “no mitigating factors” and penalised Help Direct UK accordingly. Stephen Groom reports.
ICO imposes groundbreaking £130,000 fine for alleged data protection breach by NHS-approved Pharmacy2U
Citing the reputational damage caused by the case as a mitigating factor, the Information Commissioner’s Office has imposed a £130,000 fine on NHS-approved online pharmacy Pharmacy2U. Stephen Groom explains why the case breaks new ground.
Etherington report proposes new Fundraising Regulator
The fall-out from the sad demise of an aged Bristol donor complaining of cold calls continues with an official report into fundraising that says the current self-regulatory system should be scrapped. Daisy Jones reports.
ICO slaps £50,000 and £200,000 fines on nuisance callers
Point One Marketing has been fined for brazenly making illegal calls to sell devices that blocked…..illegal calls, with a record penalty imposed on Home Energy & Lifestyle Management for automated calls “on an industrial scale.” Barney Sich reports.
Third party marketing consent relied on in Optical Express text campaign held invalid after 7,506 complaints
In its first reasoned decision on the point, the First-tier Tribunal has upheld an ICO enforcement notice against unsolicited texts using “consented data” from sources including Thomas Cook, to market the sender’s laser eye surgery. Stephen Groom reports.
Universal Utilities/Unicom hit by £200,000 Ofcom fine
Following complaints from small businesses, Ofcom investigated mis-selling practices involving alleged misrepresentations as to the likely cost and other implications of changing landline provider. Was compensation also ordered? Thomas Spanyol reports.
