Security News > 2023 > April > Marketing biz sent 107 million spam emails... to just 437k people

A recruitment business that sent out an eye watering 107 million spam emails is now nursing a £130,000 fine from Britain's data watchdog.

"It's an issue many of us face - opening up our email inboxes and it being filled with emails we did not ask for or consent to," said Andy Curry, ICO head of investigations.

As Reg readers know, sending direct marketing to unsuspecting individuals is a law-breaking move, as outlined in the UK's Privacy and Electronic Regulations 2003, the legislation used to penalize JTT. The company's actions came to light during an ICO investigation into Leads Work Limited, which itself fined for contravening PECR by sending unsolicited direct marketing messages.

LWL told the regulator it purchased data from a numbers of sources, including JTT. The ICO found that in addition to direct marketing, JTT also acts as an agency by hosting electronic marketing for third parties to its own distribution lists.

Not one complaint about the emails was received by the ICO but it was not surprised by this as the emails were hosted and JTT's role would not necessarily have been apparent to those receiving the emails.

The company did not properly seek permission from the people it chose to bombard with spam emails.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/04/17/ico_spam_email_fine/