Happy New Year to you all!  Your views on a new twist to an old subject
would be most welcome.

My Authority is currently using two different Office Systems for
internal email, word-processing etc.  System one is known as Office
Power and has been used for a number of years and is now being replaced
by system two which is Outlook based.  The Office Power system has a
"Message of the day" facility that "pops up" on every users screen, is
unavoidable, and has to be accepted as read to proceed.  This is used
for corporate messages relating to business but is also used for the
advertisement of events e.g. at the local museum or town hall.  I have
received one or two complaints about the volumes of these messages -
more since data protection awareness sessions have taken place.

System two has a "message of the day facility" but you do not have to
read it if you don't want to as it stays hidden in a public folder until
you actually select to go to that area (no complaints as yet).

Both these "message of the day" functions have been controlled centrally
since starting up.  Plans are now being developed to allow more people
to have access to the message creation facility, meaning more people
will be able to set up a message of the day in both systems.  I see the
use of this exploding to advertise all sorts of things from Villas in
Spain to the £20.00 used reliant robin in good condition.

In my view this is direct marketing and people should be able to opt out
of it.  Neither system has the facility to exclude users although the
"outlook" based system does not enforce users to read the items. 

Do I need something in place to allow people to opt out of receiving
these messages? a) for the Office Power system  b) for the new "outlook"
based system.

Current thinking with my colleagues is that no I don't as the Office
Power system will be replaced fully in 2 years time by the "outlook"
system and this doesn't enforce viewing of the message.  This is seen as
"the data controller complying as soon as he can" to any complaints.

Your views would be appreciated

regards

Lewis Bourne
Principal Information Security Officer
I.C.T. Services 



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