The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today (17 July) shed some light on how it works to fight against unlawful marketing calls and messages in a new blog post by its head of investigations, Andy Curry.
Owing to the stress and mental health burden that repeated cold calls, texts and emails can cause, the ICO is actively engaged in taking ‘robust action’ to stop businesses and individuals from making or sending these communications.
As a result of this action, the ICO has issued more than £2.4 million in fines since April 2022 against companies involved in such activities through its enforcement of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations of 2003.
The ICO’s work doesn’t stop once a fine has been issued, however, as its continues to pursue formal recovery action if offending firms elect not to play ball.
Major action taken by the ICO recently includes a total fine of £250,000 for two energy firms who bombarded people the UK’s ‘do not call’ register; whilst another was fined £130,000 for sending out million of unwanted spam emails.
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The work of collecting fines is handled by the ICO’s Financial Recovery Unit, which ensures that companies are handled in a professional way when making payments to the ICO – which also provides payment plans to businesses that are facing geniune hardship.
If a firm is deemed to be delibaretely misleading the ICO with regard to its financial health however, formal recovery action can be pursued, which may results in insolvency.
Commenting on the ICO’s work to disrupt the nefarious activities of these firms, Curry said: “Anyone can be on the receiving end of nuisance marketing calls, texts and emails – not only are they inconvenient and an invasion of privacy, they can also cause real distress.
“Nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable after simply answering the phone, receiving a text or opening their emails. We know the harm they can do. That’s why we’re committed to protecting both people and businesses by taking robust action to stop companies from making or sending unlawful marketing communications.”
