Morrisons fined after breaking regulations on sharing customers' personal information
Morrisons has been fined for breaking the law on how customers’ personal information is shared after it emerged the supermarket giant had pushed over 130,000 marketing emails to people who had opted out of receiving them.
Morrisons was found to have continued sending marketing emails to customers who had asked not to receive them
An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found Morrisons deliberately sent 130,671 emails to shoppers who had previously opted out of receiving marketing related news.
Simon Entwisle, deputy commissioner of the ICO, said: “It is vital that the public can trust companies to respect their wishes when it comes to how their personal information is used for marketing.
“These customers had explicitly told Morrisons they didn’t want marketing emails about their More card. Morrisons ignored their decision and for that we’ve taken action.”
The emails, sent in October and November 2016, were titled ‘Your Account Details’ and invited customers to change their marketing preferences to start receiving money off coupons, extra ‘more points’ and the ‘latest news’ from Morrisons.
A new data protection law is due to come into force in May next year and will set a higher bar for the consent organisations must obtain from customers before using their personal data for marketing.
Morrisons has been fined £10,500 for breaking the privacy and electronic communication regulations and has until 13 July to pay the sum. The case can be read in full here.