Cookie reprimand and more ICO investigations

September 2024

How to get to grips with your cookies and similar technologies

Following warnings issued to companies operating some of the UK’s most popular websites in relation to their use of advertising cookies, the ICO has issued a reprimand to a leading betting website. It’s also announced an investigation into a company which has failed to take action to meet cookie compliance requirements.

Bonne Terre Ltd, training as Sky Betting and Gaming, received a reprimand for ‘unlawfully processing people’s data through advertising cookies without their consent’. Third-party tracking technologies including cookies were dropped by the SkyBet website onto use devices, which collected personal data (e.g. device id and unique identifiers).

While the site had a cookie notification (pop-up) and a consent management platform (CMP), the ICO investigation found certain cookies were dropped onto user devices before visitors interacted with the CMP. This meant visitors’ personal information was being processed and made available to AdTech vendors without the visitors’ knowledge or prior consent.

In my experience this is often an area organisations often get wrong; cookies and other trackers being deployed onto user devices immediately, regardless of the CMP.

The ICO also looked into whether Sky Betting and Gaming were deliberately misusing people’s personal information to target vulnerable gamblers, but found no evidence of deliberate misuse. As a result of the ICO investigation, Sky Betting and Gaming made changes in March 2023 to make sure people could reject all advertising cookies before their personal information was shared down the AdTech supply chain.

Along with this reprimand the ICO has announced it will be investigating a gossip website; Tattle Life. Despite receiving an ICO warning, Tattle Life is said to have failed to engage.

What is the ICO’s key concern

The ICO is focusing on meeting the requirement to give users a fair choice over whether they are tracked for advertising purposes. Along with not dropping non-essential cookies on a user’s device automatically regardless of whether they have given their consent, the ICO stresses organisations must make it as easy for users to ‘reject all’ as it is to ‘accept all’.  To be clear, websites can still display adverts when users reject tracking, just not ones which are tailored to the person’s browsing habits.

Our 5 steps for compliant cookies

So, how can we make sure we’re following the rules when we deploy cookies and other similar technologies? Here are some straight-forward steps to take:

1. Audit: Do a cookie audit. If you don’t know what cookies your website is using you can’t even start to be compliant. Run a diagnostic scan to discover exactly what cookies and similar technologies are currently deployed on your website(s). Establish what they are being used for, which are provided by third party providers and which involve the sharing of data with the third party (for example Google, Meta, etc).

2. Spring clean: Get rid of the cookies you no longer need. This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how often we find long-forgotten cookies lurking on websites, serving no purpose yet still needlessly sharing data with third parties! You might need to check with your colleagues which are still used.

3. Categorise: Categorise your cookies – what are they used for?

  • Strictly necessary (essential) cookies – these are vital for the website to operate. For example, a cookie which helps keep the website secure, or a cookie which allows items to be added to a cart in an online store.
  • Analytics/Statistics/Performance cookies – for example, cookies which allow you to monitor and improve the site performance.
  • Functional cookies – cookies which enable a site to remember user preferences and settings, to enhance their experience on your website.
  • Advertising/Targeting cookies – allowing visitors to be followed from one website to another so tailored advertising can be displayed, or to target the most relevant advertising on your own website.

4. Collect consent: The law tells us you need to collect consent for all cookies and similar technologies which are not ‘strictly necessary’ before cookies are dropped onto the users device. To achieve this, you may wish to select a specialist Consent Management Platform to handle notifications and consents for you, as a website ‘plug in’.

There are many CMPs on the market, some of which are free. Beware that not all of them meet the UK/EU cookie requirements, so care is required when selecting the right one. If you use sub-domains on your website, deploy a high number of cookies or you want to exercise some creativity with how it looks, your likely to need a paid solution.

5. Notify website users: Provide a clear notification about the cookies and similar technologies you deploy. This should include:

  • the cookies you intend to use;
  • the purposes they will be used for
  • any third parties who may also process information stored in or accessed from the user’s device; and
  • the duration of any cookies you wish to set.

There are two approaches to this. You can let the CMP handle both the notification (pop-up) and the provision of more detailed information about cookies, or you can use the CMP for the pop-up and provide a separate more detailed cookie notice.

What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small pieces of information, which are used when users visit websites. The user’s software (for example, their web browser) can store cookies and send them back to the website the next time they visits.

The cookie rules also apply to any other technologies which stores or accesses information on a user’s device. For example, similar technologies could include, web beacons, scripts, tracking pixels and plugins.

What the law says

Contrary to what we often read in the papers, GDPR does not give us the rules for cookies and similar technologies. In the UK the rules are set out in the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) which are derived from the EU ePrivacy Directive. The specific requirements vary by country, so think about which countries your site users visit from. Many EU countries have their own rules, all based on the same EU Directive but in the real world they have their own nuances.

In simple terms, you can’t ‘drop’ a file on a user’s device or gain access to information stored on their device unless:

a) You have provided clear and comprehensive information about your purposes for doing this, and
b) You have collected the consent of the user.

There is an exemption for strictly necessary cookies only. The cookie rules apply regardless of whether you’re processing personal data or not, i.e. these rule also apply to the automated collection of anonymised data.

Some points worth noting from ICO guidance

  • Consent needs to meet the requirements under GDPR for it to be a specific, informed, indication of someone’s wishes given by a clear affirmative action.
  • You must inform users about what cookies you use and what they do before they give their consent.
  • Where third-party cookies are used, you must clearly and specifically name who these third parties are and what they will do with the information collected.
  • Users must be given control over non-essential cookies, and should be able to continue to use your website if they don’t give consent.

It’s worth noting the ICO has determined analytics cookies are NOT essential and require consent. However, this is not always the case in other European countries. For example, the French regulator CNIL does not mandate the collection of consent for analytics cookies. They consider these cookies can be used under Legitimate Interests, which means they still require websites to notify users and give them the opportunity to object (opt-out).

The future and alternative solutions for cookies

In both the UK and in the European Union there’s a concerted desire to simplify the rules and remove the necessity for everyone to be faced with a barrage of cookie pop-ups on every website they visit. As yet however, a suitable solution has not been agreed.

Instead of using third-party cookies to help target advertising, there are a growing number of contextual advertising solutions, which are less intrusive, and a growing interest in more privacy friend Edge Computing Solutions.

However, there’s a sense these alternatives are not yet fully tried and tested. So we’ve seen a move by some organisations (particularly publishers) to a consent or pay model.

Solving the GDPR puzzle

September 2024

Winston Churchill famously described Russian foreign policy as, ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.’

I’m sure those entrusted with data protection for their organisation may harbour similar thoughts about GDPR! Especially small-to-medium sized businesses and start-ups.

As a piece of legislation, UK GDPR has lots of moving parts. As a consultant dedicated to helping organisations understand data protection, here’s my round up of things we at DPN find most commonly misconstrued.

UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018

The UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 are not the same thing.

UK GDPR was implemented in 2020 and largely mirrors its EU namesake. Post-Brexit, the UK flavour of GDPR was created to make it fit for purpose in a UK-specific context. For example, removing all the bits which referenced ‘member state law’.

The Data Protection Act 2018 supplements UK GDPR. For example, it provides more detailed provisions in relation to special category data, child consent, the public interest lawful basis and individual privacy rights exemptions.

The DPA 2018 also includes distinct provisions for processing by law enforcement and intelligence services.

The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)

It’s PECR not UK GDPR which sets out the rules for direct marketing by electronic means, and for cookies and similar technologies.

PECR has been around since 2003, and is derived from the ePrivacy EU Directive 2002. In 2011 there was a significant update to this piece of legislation with the so called ‘cookie law’.

UK GDPR and PECR sit alongside each other. Organisations need to comply with both when personal data is collected and used for electronic marketing purposes, or collected and used via the deployment of cookies and similar technologies. UK GDPR, marketing & cookies

There’s further interplay, for example, when consent is required under PECR, the consent collected needs to meet the UK GDPR standard for valid consent. This means, to give one example, the required consent for non-essential cookies must be ‘freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous’ and must be given by a ‘clear affirmative action by the data subject’. Getting consent right

Controller and processor

UK GDPR tells us a controller means ‘the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data’.

For example, a sole trader, a charity, a limited company, a PLC or a local authority can be a controller. An individual within an organisation such as a CEO or Data Protection Officer (more on DPOs in a bit) is not a controller – a point some companies get wrong in their privacy notice and internal data protection policies.

A controller decides how personal data is collected and used, and the organisation’s senior management is accountable. Furthermore the controller decides which service providers (aka ‘suppliers’ / ‘vendors’) to use. Which brings me onto….

A processor – which means ‘a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller’.

Routinely processors will be companies which provide a service, and in providing this service handle their clients’ data. The key is the processor won’t use this client data for their own business purposes.

To give some common examples of processors – outsourced payroll provider, external cloud services, marketing platforms, communications providers, website hosts, IT support services, software and application providers, and so much more.

Some organisations which primarily act as a processor (service provider) may also act as a controller for certain activities. For example, to handle their own employee’s personal data. Controller or Processor – what are we?

Controller, processor and ‘sub processor’ contracts

A key change ushered in by GDPR was the concept of processor liability flowing right down the data supply chain. The law decrees there must be a contractual agreement between a controller and a processor, and gives very specific requirements for what this should cover. These are often found in a Data Processing Agreement (DPA), which may be an appendix or addendum to an existing or new contract.

The law aims to make sure individuals’ rights are protected at all times as data flows down and back up the supply chain. As well as a contract between a controller and processor, the processor should have similar contractual terms flowing down to other processors they engage to deliver their services – commonly known as sub-processors. For example, the obligation to keep the controller’s personal data secure at all times. A point which can often get overlooked. Supplier contracts

International data transfers include granting ‘access to’ personal data

(aka ‘restricted transfers’ or ‘cross border transfers’)

An international data transfer refers to the act of sending or transferring personal data from one country to another. Crucially this includes when an organisation makes personal data available or accessible to another entity (‘third party’) located in another country. In other words, the personal data can be accessed from overseas.

To give a couple of examples;

⚑  your UK-based organisation engages a website hosting service based in the United States, which also provides support services. Employees of this service provider can access your customer data on the back end of your website.

⚑ Your UK-based organisation provides a payroll service to clients, to provide this service you use a sub-contractor based in India. The sub-contractor can view your clients’ employee payment records.

In both of the above situations an international data transfer is taking place, and the law tells us specific safeguards are necessary. These rules exist because in the above two cases, customers and employees risk losing control of their personal data when it is ‘transferred’ outside the UK.

For more detail see our International Data Transfers Guide and the ICO International Data Transfer Guidance

Consent should not be your default lawful basis

(aka ‘legal grounds’)

Under UK GDPR there are six lawful bases for processing personal data. No single lawful basis is ’better’ or more important than the other and you must determine your lawful basis for each processing activity. Pick whichever one of the six is most appropriate to the activity.

Sometimes consent will be the most appropriate basis to rely on, but certainly not always and consent should only be used when you can give people a genuine choice. Quick guide to lawful bases

A privacy notice is simply a notification, not something people have to agree to

(aka ‘privacy policy’)

People have a fundamental right to be informed and one of the main ways organisations can meet this is by publishing a privacy notice. All businesses need an external facing privacy notice if they’re collecting and handling people’s personal information. And despite a common misconception, this doesn’t just relate to data gathered via a website.

A privacy notice is a notification about ALL the different ways in which you’ll handle people’s personal details (your processing of ‘personal data’). It’s a method of providing necessary and legally mandated information. Although often still referred to as a ‘privacy policy’ it isn’t really policy (it’s a notification only) and isn’t something people should have to confirm they agree to. Privacy Notices Quick Guide & ICO Right to be Informed Guidance 

Not every organisation must have a Data Protection Officer

Many small organisations, and many medium-sized business don’t fall under the mandatory requirement to appoint a DPO. It’s only mandatory if your activities meet certain criteria;

✓ you’re a public authority or body (except for courts acting in their judicial capacity); or
✓ your core activities require large-scale, regular and systematic monitoring of individuals (for example, online behaviour tracking); or
✓ your core activities consist of large-scale processing of special categories of data or data relating to criminal convictions and offences.

It can sometimes be difficult to assess whether your organisation falls under the mandatory requirement or not. And of course it’s perfectly acceptable to voluntarily appoint one – a good DPO can be a huge benefit. But if you don’t appoint a DPO you’ll still need someone (or a team) who have responsibility for data protection.

It is worth bearing in mind the role of a Data Protection Officer is clearly defined in law. UK GDPR sets out the position of a DPO, specific tasks they’re responsible for, and how the organisation has a duty to support the DPO to fulfil their responsibilities. DPO Myth Buster

Not all Personal Data Breaches need to be reported

You’ve accidentally sent an email to the wrong person. This included limited personal information about someone else. You’ve apologised. The person you accidentally sent it to is a trusted person and has confirmed it’s been deleted. It’s unlikely this type of minor breach needs to be reported to the ICO.

When a personal data breach has occurred (or is suspected), it’s important to quickly establish the likelihood and severity of risk and potential harms to those affected. You only need to report a breach to ICO if you assess the breach represents a risk to them. It can prove invaluable to have a clear methodology for assessing the risk posed. Data Breach Guide

The right of access (aka DSAR or SAR) is not a right to documentation

People have the right to submit a request to a controller asking for a copy of their personal data – a Data Subject Access Request. They can ask for ALL the personal data you hold about them. But this doesn’t mean the organisation is obliged to provide complete documents just because the individual’s name is referenced at some point. The same applies to emails. Requestees are not entitled to receive the full content of every email their name or email address appears in (unless all of the email content is personal data relating to them). DSAR Guide

Sensitive vs special category data

Certain types of personal data require higher levels of protection. Under the previous DPA 1998 the term ‘sensitive data’ was used, but under GDPR the revised term for this is ‘special categories of personal data’ commonly referred to as Special Category Data.

This includes (but isn’t limited to) racial or ethnic origin, biometrics, political opinions, sexual orientation and data concerning health or sex life. This doesn’t mean other types of data aren’t ‘sensitive’, and shouldn’t be handled securely – such as bank details, national insurance numbers, date of birth and so on.

It can be helpful to remember the root of special category data lies in human rights and data protection principles which emerged in Europe after World War Two – a war in which individuals were persecuted for their ethnic background, religious beliefs or indeed sexual orientation. Understanding and handling special category data

I’m going to finish off with another, but very different, quote. As Douglas Adams wrote in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, ‘DON’T PANIC!’ There’s plenty of help available (this article, for starters 😉 ) and the ICO has published plenty of guidance, including a dedicated SME Hub.

Yet more CC email data breaches

Despite a stark warning from the Information Commissioner’s Office last year that a failure to correctly use the BCC field (Blind Carbon Copy) is one of the most common cause of breaches – the mistakes keep happening.

The ICO has recently fined and issued a reprimand to the Central YMCA for sending an email to individuals participating in a programme for people living with HIV. The CC field was used, thereby revealing the email addresses to all recipients. 166 recipients could be identified or potentially identified from this, and it could be inferred they were likely to be living with HIV.

Then we hear the Conservative party has reported a breach to the ICO, after hundreds of email addresses were visible to all recipients in an email communication promoting the party’s annual conference. Again a mistake in using CC rather than BCC. The latter would have kept email addresses private. And a mistake which has the potential to reveal people’s political affiliations.

Last year in response to the number of breaches of this nature, the ICO published specific email security guidance to try and help organisations make sure their email communications are more secure.

Such breaches can cause considerable distress and harm, especially if sensitive personal information is involved, or can be inferred from the context of the email. The Regulator provides the following suggestions:

  • Setting rules to provide alerts to warn employees when they us the CC field.
  • Setting a delay, to allow time for errors to be corrected before the email is sent.
  • Turning off the auto-complete function to prevent the system suggesting recipients’ email addresses.
  • Making sure staff are trained about security measures when sending bulk communications by email
  • Using alternative more secure bulk email solutions.

The Central YMCA and Conservative Party are not the first to find themselves in the spotlight for incorrectly using CC. Sadly, I suspect they won’t be the last.

A couple of years ago, HIV Scotland was fined for failing to protect personal data. An email was sent to 105 members of HIV Scotland’s Community Action Network (CAN). Email addresses were visible to all recipients in the CC field. Although the email addresses themselves may be considered fairly innocuous, due to the nature of the email, the charity had inadvertently disclosed special category data. The ICO commented assumptions could be made about individuals’ HIV status or risk from the data disclosed. The ICO investigation found a number of shortcomings in the charity’s email procedures, including inadequate staff training and an inadequate data protection policy.

The message is simple: the BCC method of bulk email is open to human error, and not advisable when sending bulk emails to multiple recipients and/or if the email could reveal sensitive information.

Instead the advice is to use other secure means, such as bulk email services. This would prevent the chance of mistakes being made. The ICO says it would also expect businesses have policies and training in relation to email communications. It’s also worth checking out the National Cyber Security Centre’s useful Email Security Checklist.

Quick Guide to UK GDPR, Marketing and Cookies

January 2024

How UK GDPR and PECR go hand-in-hand

Most have heard of GDPR. However, data protection law existed way before this new kid arrived on the block in 2018. And let’s not forget in the UK, GDPR has an equally important cousin called PECR.

The UK’s Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) have been around since 2003 before the days of smartphones and apps. Organisations need to consider both UK GDPR and PECR when it comes to marketing and cookies.

Why marketers need to pay attention

There are more fines issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for falling foul of the PECR marketing rules than there are under UK GDPR. Under UK data reform plans, the amount the Regulator can fine under PECR could be set to increase substantially to a maximum of around £17 million. Currently the maximum fine under PECR is £500k. So it’s worth taking notice.

This is a quick overview, and we’d encourage you to check the ICO’s detailed marketing guidance and cookie guidance.

What’s the difference between UK GDPR and PECR?

In a nutshell…

UK GDPR

✓ Tells us how we should handle personal data – information which could directly or indirectly identify someone.
✓ Sets out requirements organisations need to meet and their obligations.
✓ Provides us with seven core data protection principles which need to be considered whenever we handle personal data for any purpose, including marketing.
✓ Defines the legal standard for consent, which is relevant for direct marketing
✓ Gives people privacy rights, including an absolute right to object to direct marketing.

One of the principles is that processing of personal data must be lawful, fair and transparent. This includes making sure we have a lawful basis for our activities.

PECR

✓ Sets out specific rules for marketing to UK citizens, for example by emails , text messages or conducting telemarketing calls to UK citizens.
✓ Sets out specific rules when using cookies and similar technologies (such as scripts, tracking pixels and plugins).

PECR is derived from an EU directive, and EU countries have their own equivalent regulation which, whilst covering similar areas, may have different requirements, when marketing to their citizens.

We’ve written about the specific rules for email marketing and telemarketing here:
UK email marketing rules
UK telemarketing rules
The ‘soft opt-in’ – are you getting it right

How do UK GDPR and PECR work together?

Direct marketing

Marketers need to consider the core principles of UK GDPR when handling people’s personal information. Furthermore, they need to have a lawful basis for each data activity. Of the six lawful bases, two are appropriate for direct marketing activities; Consent and Legitimate Interests.

Consent: PECR tells us, for certain electronic marketing activity, we have to get people’s prior consent. UK GDPR tells us the standards we need to meet for this consent to be valid. Consent – Getting it right

Legitimate interests: If the types of marketing we conduct don’t require consent under PECR , we may choose to request consent anyway, or we could rely on legitimate interests. For example, marketing to business contacts rather than consumers.

Under GDPR, we need to be sure to balance our legitimate interests with the rights and interests of the people whose personal information we are using – i.e. the people we want to market to. ICO Legitimate Interests Guidance 

What about cookies?

PECR requires opt-in consent for most cookies or similar tech, regardless of whether they collect personal data or not. And we’re told this consent must meet the UK GDPR standards.

In simple terms, the rules are:

✓ Notify new users your website/app users about your use of cookies or similar technologies and provide adequate transparent information about what purposes they are used for.
✓ Consent is required for use of cookies, except a narrow exclusion for those which are ‘strictly necessary’ (also known as ‘essential’ cookies).
✓ Users need to be able to give or decline consent before the cookies are dropped on their device and should be given options to manage their consents at any time (e.g. opt-out after initially giving consent).

PECR fine for invalid marketing consent

January 2024

What lessons can we learn from the HelloFresh case?

HelloFresh used a marketing consent statement with a clear opt-in box for customers to tick, but the ICO has ruled the wording of the statement did not meet the requirements for consent to be specific and informed. The regulator has issued a £140k fine.

Sometimes, the ICO issues fines under PECR based on only a handful of complaints, however in this case thousands of complaints were raised via the ICO spam reporting tool.

The online meal order business was found to have sent over 80 million marketing email and text messages between September 2021 to February 2022 without first collecting valid consent.

When relying on consent for direct marketing under PECR, consent must meet the UK GDPR requirements; a freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication for an individual’s wishes, given by a clear affirmative action.

What ‘consent’ statement was used?

The consent statement HelloFresh used at the time was as follows:

“Yes, I’d like to receive sample gifts (including alcohol) and other offers, competitions and news via email. By ticking this box I confirm I am over 18 years old”.

This was relied on to send marketing emails and texts to customers with an active or paused subscription, and to former customers who’d cancelled their subscription within the last 24 months, but had given their ‘consent’ for marketing.

Users were able to update their communications preferences via an app, but the settings did not allow users to set preferences individually by channel e.g. phone, text and/or email.

☛ Consent: Getting it Right

Key ICO findings

Two points were highlighted as being particularly relevant in this case:

  • for consent to be valid it is required to be “specific” as to the type of marketing communication to be received, and the organisation, or specific type of organisation, that will be sending it.
  • ‘consent will not be “informed” if individuals do not understand what they are consenting to. Organisations should therefore always ensure that the language used is clear, easy to understand, and not hidden away in a privacy policy or small print.

The ICO found HelloFresh’s statement did not satisfy the requirement for consent to be “specific” and “informed” because:

  • Consent for marketing was not clear, as it was bundled in with other aspects. It combined an age confirmation statement and consent to receive free samples with consent for marketing by email.
  • It failed to tell people about text messages and thereby failed to collect valid consent for marketing by text message.
  • Customers were not told they could receive direct marketing messages for up to 24 months after they’d cancelled their subscription.

Key takeaways (no fresh veg included I’m afraid)

✓ Collect consent separately for different aspects /activities – don’t bundle everything into the same tick box

In my opinion using; I’d like to receive sample gifts (including alcohol) and other offers, competitions and news via email would have been okay for email marketing.

The big problem was adding; By ticking this box I confirm I am over 18 years old. This clearly should have been separate, and the ICO found this was likely to ‘unfairly incentivise’ customers to agree.

✓ Collect consent separately for each marketing media channel you want to use for communications e.g. telephone, text and email

In my opinion, HelloFresh may have avoided regulatory scrutiny if the statement had at least mentioned ‘via email and text’. The safest approach (from a regulatory perspective) is to collect consent by channel. Also in our experience, people may want email, but not texts, so separating them can optimise email opt-in.

✓ Don’t assume you can continue sending marketing to people after they have cancelled a subscription with you

The last point is interesting and a little surprising. The ICO is indicating that even if a customer has consented to marketing when they take out a subscription, this may not be valid once the customer ends that subscription – unless people are made aware of this when they give their consent. I doubt this point would ever have been picked up if HelloFresh had clearly collected consent for marketing by text in the first place.

Picking through the detail of ICO fines under PECR is always worth doing. The findings can give a nudge to check you aren’t doing anything similar. The full details can be found in the ICO’s enforcement notice.

UK telemarketing rules

November 2023

How to avoid falling foul of the rules for marketing calls

Hardly a month goes by without the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) fining another company for breaking the telemarketing rules under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

I’m sure all of us have been on the receiving end of a dodgy call. The favoured have you recently been involved in an accident? springs to mind.

Tackling nuisance calls is clearly a key priority for the Regulator, so how do bone fide businesses avoid being tarred with the same brush as the rogue operators?

6-point telemarketing guide

1. Service vs marketing calls

The definition of direct marketing covers any advertising or promotional material directed at particular individuals. Routine customer service calls don’t count as direct marketing.

But if you’re treating a call as a service call (and not applying the marketing rules under PECR) you need to be careful the script / call guide and what your call handlers say in practice doesn’t stray into the realms of trying to get customers to buy extra products, services or to upgrade or renew contracts.

A Trade Union was fined in 2021 for not screening numbers against the TPS. The Union didn’t believe its calls were direct marketing, but the ICO judged they were. Just because you believe you’re acting in good faith doesn’t mean you are. Marketing messages and service messages

2. Consent or Legitimate Interests?

Telephone numbers which can directly or indirectly identify an individual are personal data and fall under the scope of UK GDPR. For example, when using someone’s personal or work mobile, direct line business number or home landline you’ll need to comply with both UK GDPR and PECR.

You’ll need to decide whether to rely on consent or legitimate interests as your lawful basis under UK GDPR to make telemarketing calls to people. In brief:

  • Consent: make sure this meets the requirement to be a specific, informed, unambiguous indication of someone’s wishes made with a positive action (e.g. an opt-in). Keep records of consent (including, if relevant the script used) and make sure withdrawing consent is as easy as it is to give it. Consent – getting it right
  • Legitimate Interests: conduct a Legitimate Interests Assessment (LIA), keep a record of this assessment and be sure to provide people with a way to opt-out of future calls. Legitimate interests – is it legit? 

3. Live marketing calls to individuals

Below are the key rules to follow:

  • Don’t make marketing calls to anyone who’s told you they don’t want to hear from you. Keep a suppression file of all objections to telemarketing, and screen your campaigns against this internal ‘do not call list’.
  • Don’t make marketing calls to anyone registered with the Telephone Preference Service, unless you’ve collected consent to call them.
  • Say who’s calling – i.e. clearly state the name of your organisation.
  • Always display your number (or an alternative contact number).
  • Provide an address or freephone contact number if asked.
  • Make it easy to opt-out of further calls.

4. Remember sector specific rules

Stricter rules apply if you’re making calls about claims management or pension schemes. For claims management services you must have consent. For calls about pension schemes, you must have consent unless:

  • You are a trustee/manager of a pension scheme; or
  • A firm authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority; or
  • Your relationship with the individual meets strict criteria.

5. Automated calls

When using automated dialling systems which play a recorded message the rules are very strict. You must have:

  • Specific consent from individuals indicating they’re okay to receive automated calls; and
  • Calls must include your organisation’s name and contact address or freephone number; and
  • You must display your number (or alternative contact number).

In practice, these consent rules make genuine compliant automated calls very difficult.

6.  Marketing/sales calls to business numbers

The rules under the UK’s PECR are the same for calling businesses as they are for individuals.

  • You can call any business that has specifically consented to your calls. Or, and most commonly…
  • You can make live calls to any business number which is not registered with the TPS or the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS). But only if they haven’t objected to your calls and you’re not calling about claims management services.

The reason screening against both TPS and CTPS is necessary (if you don’t have consent), is sole traders and some partnerships may have registered with the TPS.

Applicable laws for telemarketing

PECR gives us the rules for telemarketing calls in the UK and the ICO has published telemarketing guidance. As well as complying with PECR you should comply with UK GDPR for your handling of personal data.

The rules differ in other countries, so check local laws if your telemarketing extends to calling people in other territories. Many countries have a ‘do not call’ register similar to the Telephone Preference Service.

There are also specific rules under PECR for email marketing messages, see UK email marketing rules.

Marketing messages and service messages

September 2023

How to avoid falling foul of the PECR rules

Many businesses need to send important or essential messages to their customers by email or SMS, or may telephone them. But if the content of these messages strays into becoming promotional in nature, the marketing rules under the UK’s Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) will apply.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued a number of fines over the years where marketing messages have been ‘disguised’ as service messages. I’ve included a few examples below.

The risk for businesses is it can take just one, or a handful of complaints to cause a problem.

What’s a service message?

Essentially, a service message is a communication sent to individuals purely for administrative or customer service reasons. Such messages must be neutral in tone, providing just important and necessary information.

The ICO tells us these must not include any advertising or promotional materials and that the key is in the ‘phrasing, tone and context’.

Pure services messages can be sent to everyone provided they only contain essential factual information for your customer. Some examples would include:

  • confirming an order/purchase
  • confirming a delivery date/time
  • providing necessary event information when someone has purchased a ticket (free or paid for)
  • notifying people you require certain information to comply with the law, for example, an airline requesting passport information before an overseas flight
  • informing service users about essential changes, for example, telling leisure centre members the swimming pool has been unexpectedly closed
  • communication changes to the terms and conditions of a contract or agreement the individual has with you, or material changes to privacy information

What’s a marketing message?

If a message is actively promoting or encouraging an individual to make use of a particular service, a special offer, or upgrade for example, then it is likely to be direct marketing. This would include where part but not all of the message, or phone call, is of a promotional nature.

The Data Protection Act 2018 defines direct marketing as: the communication (by whatever means) of advertising or marketing material which is directed to particular individuals. A definition which applies under PECR.

It’s a broad definition and covers any advertising, marketing or promotion of products and services directed targeted at a specific individual or individuals. It also includes promoting aims and ideals, so covers fundraising and campaigning.

Regulatory communications

Some businesses, for example in the financial sector, will be required by a statutory regulator such as the Financial Conduct Authority to make people aware of specific information.

The ICO has published direct marketing and regulatory communications guidance. Again it depends on the context and tone of the message, but some examples are provided of messages which are unlikely to count as direct marketing.

  • give advance warning of changes to terms, conditions or tariffs
  • explain about statutory complaint or compensation schemes
  • warn about fraud and how to report it
  • remind people of how to get in touch if they are struggling with payments
  • provide offers of support for those customers most at risk of harm.

Where businesses have got it wrong

Navigating the line between service messages and marketing messages can be tricky, as the following companies discovered.

We all have feet of clay; I’m sure many other organisations are shimmying along this regulatory tightrope. Some consciously pushing the boundaries, others inadvertently breaking the rules.

American Express

In 2021 AMEX was fined £90,000 for sending 4 million emails, which were judged to fall under the definition of direct marketing, to customers who’d not given their consent or who’d opted out of marketing.

The nature of these emails ranged from encouraging people to download the AMEX app, to how to make the most of an AMEX card, rewards and offers, how to earn more rewards by referring friends, getting an improved rate on cashback, and so on.

The key here is AMEX’s decision to internally classify these emails as ‘service’ messages, which is why customers who’d opted out / objected to marketing still received them. The ICO disagreed and determined these were direct marketing, and marketing opt-outs should have been applied.

And just to be clear, in this case the ICO found AMEX hadn’t deliberately flouted the rules but did find them to be negligent.

In its defence AMEX said the emails were an integral part of the service they provide to AMEX customers. Their argument was that a crucial aspect of being an AMEX customer was taking advantage of member benefits. They said this was cited by customers as one of the primary reasons for having an AMEX card. AMEX therefore determined these messages were necessary and “required to be sent based on legal and contractual requirements”.

The ICO however assessed the content of the emails and found the following:

  • The emails encouraged customers to use their AMEX credit cards to make purchases or, in specific cases, download an app
  • The emails were clearly of an advertising and promotional nature
  • None were “neutrally worded and purely administrative”

Whatever their stated purpose internally, the ICO found the email content fell under the definition of direct marketing. The emails were aimed at encouraging customer actions from which AMEX would financially gain.

The penalty notice reveals AMEX received twenty-two complaints about ‘service’ emails during the period investigated. Five people complained directly to the ICO, some after initially raising their concerns with AMEX (but not all). It’s also worth noting some people complained because AMEX refused to let them opt-out because they viewed the messages as service ones not requiring an opt-out capability.

What struck me was the tiny percentage of complainants, especially when you consider AMEX sent out four million emails. (Admittedly this figure is likely to include repeated emails to the same individuals).

It starkly illustrates how only a few complaints can cause a world of pain. (There have been cases in the past based on a single complaint).

Halfords

In 2022 the ICO fined Halfords £30,000 for sending half a million emails without consent. This case shows how just one complaint directly to the ICO triggered unwelcome scrutiny.

Halfords sent an email campaign to customers letting them know about a Government ‘Fix your Bike’ scheme during the Covid pandemic, whereby cyclists could take advantage of a voucher towards repairs. A voucher which could be used with any of a list of approved repairers or mechanics.

This was sent to customers who had opted out of marketing in the past and the email contained a disclaimer stating; This is a service message and does not affect your marketing opt-in status. The email didn’t include an unsubscribe link.

In exchanges with the ICO, Halfords claimed they were acting in the public interest to support a Government scheme in a one-off campaign during the pandemic. Halfords also pointed to the fact that 3,700 people took up the opportunity to claim the voucher, and only received seven complaints themselves from almost half a million ‘service’ messages.

However the ICO said the content of the email promoted Halfords, and was therefore a marketing message.

  • It was found to imply a connection between Halfords and the scheme, emphasising the service provided by Halfords.
  • People were told to “Visit halfords.com to find out more now”. The regulator said this not only signposted individuals to the company’s website but included ‘a sense of urgency in the messaging, which is a typical marketing strategy.’

The enforcement notice reveals how much information companies need to provide when they end up on the ICO’s radar.

  • A lack of clarity was initially provided surrounding the numbers of emails delivered/received
  • No policies and procedures existed to guide staff in respect of PECR

It goes to show it’s all very well to have a Data Protection Policy, but having specific marketing guidelines shouldn’t be overlooked.

What lessons can we learn?

It pays to carefully scrutinise any service messages which may be in danger of crossing the line. Give your staff clear policies/guides on the marketing rules and your internal approach.

These cases and others before it, show the ICO takes a strict interpretation and a handful of complaints can put you firmly in their sights.

UK email marketing rules

September 2023

Is email marketing putting your business as risk?

Hardly a month goes by without an announcement from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office of another business being fined for falling foul of the email & SMS marketing rules.

It continues to surprise me some marketing and communications teams haven’t heard of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. They’ve been around since 2003 (far longer than GDPR) so businesses really have no excuse. Of course, there will always be some who want to try and get away with it.

Under PECR there are specific rules for direct marketing by telephone, email and SMS, plus rules for cookies and similar technologies.

Here I’m going to focus on email marketing. The same rules apply to SMS and to other ‘electronically stored’ marketing messages, including picture or video messages, voicemail, in-app messages and personal messaging on social media.

Consent for business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing emails

Unless using the exemption below, you must collect consent before you send email marketing to what are termed individual subscribers. This definition covers people who personally subscribe to their email service provider. For example people who give you their personal gmail, hotmail or btinternet email address.

Soft opt-in exemption for business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing emails

There’s an exemption to consent for B2C email marketing, commonly known as the soft opt-in. This can only be used if the following criteria are met:

  • The individual’s contact details are collected during the course of a sale (or negotiations of a sale) of a product or service
  • An opportunity to refuse or opt-out of the marketing is given at the point of collection and in every subsequent communication AND
  • You only send marketing about your own similar products and services.

See PECR Regulation 22 and the ICO Guidance on Electronic Mail

Marketing emails to business contacts (B2B)

The rules on consent and the soft opt-in exemption do not apply to what are termed corporate subscribers. A corporate subscriber is described by the ICO as any corporate body (an entity with a separate legal status) with its own phone number or internet connection.

For example, my work email address has the domain <name>@dpnetwork.org.uk. DPN Associates pays for this service, not me as an individual. Businesses don’t legally need consent to contact me at my DPN business email address. To quote the ICO on this:

“The PECR rule on direct marketing by electronic mail does not apply to corporate subscribers. For example, this means you can send B2B direct marketing emails or texts to any corporate body. You do not need their consent under PECR to send such messages.”

A couple of key points to bear in mind:

  • A named business contact will still fall under the definition of personal data. Therefore B2B marketing to named individuals must comply with UK GDPR.
  • Sole traders and some partnerships technically fall under the definition of individual subscribers, where consent or the soft-opt-in exemption would be required.

The right to object

Everyone has the absolute right to object to direct marketing. This applies to both B2C and B2B marketing communications. Marketing emails should always have an unsubscribe link or clear instructions how to opt-out. Businesses also need to make sure everyone who has opted-out of emails is not included again.

Global email marketing

If you’re a UK-based company sending marketing emails outside the UK, you’ll need to check the rules in the destination country. The rules in the recipients’ country will apply. The rules in Germany, for example, are stricter than they are in the UK. Rules differ across Europe and the rest of the world for B2C and B2B email marketing.

What about UK GDPR?

Once you’ve got the PECR rules straight, you need to also consider what’s necessary to comply with UK GDPR. For example you should be transparent about your activities, fulfil the right to be informed, the right to object to direct marketing and so on. You also need to identify a lawful basis for your marketing activities and meet the requirements of this lawful basis.

Consent

If you’re relying on consent under PECR, the ICO tells us consent must meet UK GDPR’s standards. In other words, consent should be ‘freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous’ and must be given by the individual with a ‘clear affirmative action’.

One of the big changes under GDPR was the consent requirement became far stricter. It’s worth double-checking you’re meeting them. Consent – are you getting it right?

Legitimate Interests

If you don’t have to rely on consent, your other option is legitimate interests. There is a handy table in the ICO’s legitimate interests’ guidance under Can we use legitimate interests for our marketing activities?, which sets out when consent is required and when legitimate interests may be appropriate.

It shouldn’t be a throwaway decision to rely on legitimate interests. GDPR requires you to carefully balance the legitimate interests of your business with the ‘rights and freedoms’ of the people you’re going to market to.

You need to take care to make sure the rights of those whose data you’re collecting are not undermined by your business legitimate interests. We’d advise completing a Legitimate Interests Assessment (known as a balancing test) and keeping a record of this.

Other areas to be mindful of

  • Disguising a marketing message as a service message. Businesses will often need to send service messages by email for administrative or customer services purposes. These can be sent to everyone provided they only contain essential factual information for your customer. Such as confirming an order, confirming a delivery date/time, and so on. However, if there’s any promotional content, for example an upsell or cross-sell message, they will be deemed to be direct marketing messages and then PECR will apply. See Marketing and Service Messages
  • Asking for permission to send marketing by email is deemed to be a marketing message in itself. So you can’t email people (‘individual subscribers’) to ask them to consent to marketing.
  • ‘Hosted’ emails; this is where you use another organisation to promote your products or services to their database. This could cause a problem if you are judged to be the ‘instigator’ of these emails, especially in a B2C context, and valid ‘named’ consent wasn’t collected, i.e. your business wasn’t named when the other organisation collected consent.

The above are all areas the ICO has taken action in the past.

On the face of it, email marketing rules might seem a minefield of terms; consent, soft opt-ins, opt-outs, legitimate interests, sole traders and corporate subscribers.

But once the rules are embedded into marketing teams’ heads and ways of working, it can make life easier and reduce the chances of unknowingly violating them and risking a fine.