United Kingdom: Opened consultation in ICO inquiry into an illegal proposition to customers using personal information provided in a business context

On 22 August 2023, the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) launched an inquiry and a call for victims of what are commonly known as “text pests” to provide information. The aim is to assist the regulator in gathering evidence regarding the impact of this illicit conduct. The call for submissions will remain open until 15 September 2023. “Text pests” are individuals who exploit personal details, such as phone numbers or email addresses shared in a professional context, for unwelcome romantic or sexual advances. This initiative follows recent research commissioned by the ICO, which unveiled that nearly a third of respondents aged 18-34 had encountered such practices. The ICO intends to investigate further the unauthorised use of personal data for romantic or sexual propositions. The regulator will also reach out to prominent customer-focused employers in the country to underline their legal obligations and gain insights into the protective measures they have in place.