Businesses have been issued a caution to take action if their employees misuse customers’ contact details to send inappropriate messages.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has disclosed that nearly a third of young individuals have experienced unsolicited contact after providing personal information to a business.
The ICO intends to remind companies of their legal obligations concerning “text pests” within their workforce and urges those affected by such conduct to share their encounters.
A study commissioned by the ICO unveiled that 17% of the general public had their personal data, shared with businesses, exploited for romantic or sexual propositions. Notably, this figure stood at 30% for those aged 18-24, 29% for 25-34 year-olds, and 25% for those aged 35-44.
The prevalence of this issue was most notable in London, with 33% of respondents reporting such incidents.
Furthermore, the study disclosed that 66% of respondents deemed the practice morally objectionable. This sentiment was shared by 74% of female respondents and 58% of male respondents.
The survey encompassed interviews with 2,289 UK adults, although a gender breakdown of recipients of inappropriate messages was not provided.
Emily Keaney, Deputy Commissioner at the ICO, highlighted the importance of respecting personal details shared for business purposes and criticized the notion of using such information for romantic advances. She emphasized that this behavior is not romantic but rather illegal.
