Crackdown on 'Text pests' as Brits warned of inappropriate requests

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【Summary】The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is cracking down on "text pests" who use customers' contact information to ask them out or proposition them. A recent study conducted by the ICO found that one-third of individuals aged 18 to 34 have been victims of this inappropriate use of personal information. The ICO is urging businesses to ensure that customers' contact details are not exploited for non-business related purposes.

FutureCar Staff Aug 22, 2023 10:30 AM PT

Crackdown on 'Text pests' as Brits warned of inappropriate requests

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has warned that people who use customers' phone numbers to ask them out or proposition them are breaking the law. In a renewed crackdown on "text pests," the ICO emphasized that individuals aged 18 to 34 are particularly vulnerable to this inappropriate use of their contact information. A recent study conducted by Savanta on behalf of the ICO revealed that two-thirds of respondents consider the misuse of personal information for romantic or sexual propositions as morally wrong. However, only 56% of participants believe it to be illegal.

Emily Keaney, a deputy commissioner at the ICO, highlighted the rights of consumers, stating that people have the right to order a pizza, give their email for a receipt, or have shopping delivered without being asked for sex or a date afterwards. Keaney expressed concern over the high number of people, especially young people, falling prey to these "text pests."

The ICO has declared that using someone's personal details, given to you in a business context, to ask them out is not romantic or charming, but against the law. The ICO is actively encouraging victims of such practices to come forward and aims to gain a clearer understanding of the prevalence and impact of this issue. They will also be reaching out to major customer-facing employers to ensure compliance with data protection laws.

Keaney reiterated the importance of data protection and reminded customer-facing businesses that they have a responsibility to protect the data of their customers, including from their own employees misusing it. The ICO has launched a call for evidence to further understand the misuse of personal information and how it has affected the public. This information will be used to inform their work in protecting the public.

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