UK Fines Companies Over £2.4 Million for Unlawful Marketing Communications

The UK's independent authority, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), has taken action against companies responsible for nuisance calls, texts, and emails. Since April 2022, fines totaling more than £2.4 million have been issued to those who have violated the law by making unlawful marketing communications.

Making a Difference: Your Complaints Count

It's encouraging to know that some of these investigations were prompted by a single complaint from a member of the public. This emphasizes the importance of standing up for your privacy and acting when necessary.

Some examples of companies disregarding the law, ignoring opt-outs and permission requirements:

- Two energy companies were fined a combined total of £250,000 for bombarding individuals on the UK's 'do not call' list with unlawful marketing calls.

- Another organization faced a £130,000 fine for sending millions of spam emails without consent.

Your Vigilance Matters

While not all unwanted calls necessarily violate your privacy, your good judgment and commitment to protecting your information will help you identify spam and phishing attempts. Know you can report them here.

Other actions for protecting your privacy against those who don't respect it:

- Register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) for free to opt out of telesales calls.

- Be cautious when providing your contact details and carefully consider marketing "opt-in" or "opt-out" options.

- Request caller details and verify their legitimacy before sharing personal information.

- If you receive texts or emails from unknown or unfamiliar sources, do not respond. Block and report them as spam.

- Discover where your contact details may have been compromised with Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection. This service scans the internet, including the dark web, for any leaked personal information. Take control of your digital footprint and minimize your risk.

Read more about our identity protection and privacy solutions here.