Technorama

Just heard back from the Information Commissioner's office some answers to questions I asked quite some time back. Unfortunately both are not what I was hoping for. Thought I would share the info, party for info, partly to save peoples time if they are thinking to contact ICO office -- it's not worth the effort.

A) M&S can get me to sign purchase form which says "see online for full terms", they are allowed to get people to sign and ICO says that is okay, because they can check the terms after. Only when checking to discover the online terms link says they are opted in to direct marketing at their email address and postal now (unless write in by snail.. and wait 8 weeks I think it was.)

B) Amex (American Express) are allowed in their online sign up to have no way to not be opted in to marketing, and ICO says that is fine, because we can each write in.. and wait the 8 weeks to be removed (or what ever it was)

Bit of a shame. ICO doesn't seem to have much of a remit. Think I'll wait for them to get some new powers before from an updated data protection act before I query specific cases again.

Labels: DataProtection