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Politics0 min ago
Scientologists And Data Protection
Years ago in 1986, we took our then sixteen year old daughter and her friend to Brighton for the day. Whilst we had a coffee in the town centre, the girls had a mooch around the shops nearby.
They were approached by two young women with clipboards who asked if they would complete a survey. Seeing no harm in it, the girls agreed. To cut a long story short, they were bullied into buying the Dianetics book. Neither could afford the book outright so they had to pool their money to buy just the one copy. My daughter gave her name and address for the receipt. Neither girl actually wanted the book as both were regular members of the congregation at our local parish church.
Over the years our daughter received many unwanted mailings from the East Grinstead headquarters of the Scientologists. Nothing that we could do would stop the flow of mail. It became quite intimidating. We moved house and eventually our daughter married so changed her name. The flow of mail eventually stopped.
Now, out of the blue, the owner of our old house has forwarded a letter addressed to our daughter in her former name from the Scientologists.
Surely after 33yrs, these people are breaking the data protection law in keeping her name and address on their files?
They were approached by two young women with clipboards who asked if they would complete a survey. Seeing no harm in it, the girls agreed. To cut a long story short, they were bullied into buying the Dianetics book. Neither could afford the book outright so they had to pool their money to buy just the one copy. My daughter gave her name and address for the receipt. Neither girl actually wanted the book as both were regular members of the congregation at our local parish church.
Over the years our daughter received many unwanted mailings from the East Grinstead headquarters of the Scientologists. Nothing that we could do would stop the flow of mail. It became quite intimidating. We moved house and eventually our daughter married so changed her name. The flow of mail eventually stopped.
Now, out of the blue, the owner of our old house has forwarded a letter addressed to our daughter in her former name from the Scientologists.
Surely after 33yrs, these people are breaking the data protection law in keeping her name and address on their files?
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People do seem to have odd ideas about Data Protection.
Put simply, an organisation can do pretty much anything it wants with your data, as long as
1. It is not used for illegal (criminal) purposes)
2. They declare in advance what they are going to do and get your approval - these days it needs to be explicit approval, back in the days of yore an implicit approval was assumed unless you opted out.
I suspect an organisation as techno-savvy as The Scientologists would have been ticking all the right boxes for you - even back in 1986.
It will, however, be an offence if they do not now desist when asked.
Put simply, an organisation can do pretty much anything it wants with your data, as long as
1. It is not used for illegal (criminal) purposes)
2. They declare in advance what they are going to do and get your approval - these days it needs to be explicit approval, back in the days of yore an implicit approval was assumed unless you opted out.
I suspect an organisation as techno-savvy as The Scientologists would have been ticking all the right boxes for you - even back in 1986.
It will, however, be an offence if they do not now desist when asked.
4candles that's not fair, it's just dumping the problem on the people living in the old house and it's nothing to do with them.
MWG if your daughter receives another letter, cross out the old address and write across "No longer at this address, please remove from mailing list thank you" or something like that.
MWG if your daughter receives another letter, cross out the old address and write across "No longer at this address, please remove from mailing list thank you" or something like that.
"4candles that's not fair, it's just dumping the problem on the people living in the old house and it's nothing to do with them."
ladybirder I've been at my current property for over six years, but still get occasional 'spam' mail for the previous occupants. It's not proved to be problem to recycle it. ;)
ladybirder I've been at my current property for over six years, but still get occasional 'spam' mail for the previous occupants. It's not proved to be problem to recycle it. ;)
most of these answers are inaccurate - read the banner at the top of the thread that says there is no law that Abers have to try to get things right
People do seem to have odd ideas about Data Protection. [they certainly do] Put simply, an organisation can do pretty much anything it wants.....
erm no it cant really - the new thing is the GDPR - Zuckerberg thought your data was his, and the Zuck is wrong
First I think you need to consider with you daughter about what you wish to do - one letter to an old name in a few years seems acceptable - BUT if you wish to take action
then go here
https:/
scroll to the very bottom
Right to Object and follow their instructions
if your daughter doesnt wish to use her own name then she could do it from one of your email addresses - using of course her old name
in answer to your question
no they are not breaking the law as they ( will say ) they have a legitimate purpose in keeping the data ....
People do seem to have odd ideas about Data Protection. [they certainly do] Put simply, an organisation can do pretty much anything it wants.....
erm no it cant really - the new thing is the GDPR - Zuckerberg thought your data was his, and the Zuck is wrong
First I think you need to consider with you daughter about what you wish to do - one letter to an old name in a few years seems acceptable - BUT if you wish to take action
then go here
https:/
scroll to the very bottom
Right to Object and follow their instructions
if your daughter doesnt wish to use her own name then she could do it from one of your email addresses - using of course her old name
in answer to your question
no they are not breaking the law as they ( will say ) they have a legitimate purpose in keeping the data ....
1 to 12 of 12
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