VisitGuernsey probes spam email marketing allegations
The official tourist board for Guernsey has claimed it has not breached Information Commissioner Guidelines with its email marketing campaigns.
VisitGuernsey was accused of being a ‘spam trap’ address which floods subscribers with unsolicited emails by watchdog firm Spamhaus. It has however denied any wrongdoing to the BBC.
Richard Cox, chief information officer for Spamhaus, said that the company gives organisations accused of spamming clients “a chance to make matters right so we don't have to add them to any of our lists".
The aforementioned lists are used when compiling spam filters, with repeat offenders being blacklisted by the service.
Emma Martins, Guernsey data protection commissioner, said that those who received emails from VisitGuernsey will "have to have consented or opted in" to receive such communiques.
Martins said: "I would expect a reputable organisation such as VisitGuernsey to enter contracts that ensure that their contracted providers ensure the lists they provide, they obtain and they purchase have the consent issue flushed out."
Last February VisitGuernsey appointed Vivid to handle creative and advertising services for the island as part of a three year contract, which it is understood has not been involved in this project.