According to a recent UK poll, approximately 33% of individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 have experienced unwelcome romantic advances after providing their personal information to a business. In response to this concerning trend, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is urging recipients of such messages to come forward and assist in gathering evidence regarding the impact of this phenomenon. These unwanted texts are typically sent by individuals who have obtained personal information, such as phone numbers or email addresses, through a business context, and then exploit this data to make romantic advances.
The ICO’s research discovered that nearly one-third of young adults aged 18 to 34 have fallen victim to this practice. Additionally, it revealed that 66% of the general public believe it is morally wrong to use personal details given for business purposes to contact someone outside of that context. To combat this issue, the ICO will be reaching out to major customer-facing employers in the country, reminding them that unauthorized use of personal information is illegal.
This call for action comes in light of a recent incident involving a 23-year-old airline passenger named Hannah Smethurst. While waiting to board a flight, Smethurst received an unsolicited WhatsApp message from a contractor working for Etihad Airways, who had accessed her contact information through the airline’s system. Smethurst described the experience as “terrifying” and admitted it made her feel incredibly vulnerable. In response, Etihad launched an investigation and confirmed “inappropriate conduct by an employee of a third-party contractor.”
Emily Keaney, the deputy commissioner of regulatory policy at the ICO, stressed the importance of individuals having control over their personal information. She emphasized that people should be able to provide their contact details for ordinary purposes, such as ordering a pizza or receiving a receipt, without subsequently being subjected to unwanted sexual advances or dating requests. When individuals share their personal information, they have the right to know that it will not be used in ways that make them uncomfortable.
Keaney further highlighted the responsibility that customer-facing businesses have in protecting the data of their customers, including safeguarding against misuse by their own employees. It is crucial for businesses to prioritize data protection and take necessary measures to prevent such unauthorized behavior.
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