The fact that e-mail address does not contain an individuals name would still not make it acceptable to divulge it to other people in this way. I think that whether or not you interpret an e-mail address as "personal data" under DPA or not misses the point - it is the inappropriateness of distributing that information to other people that is relevant. -----Original Message----- From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tinsley, Chris Sent: 18 October 2006 14:34 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [data-protection] Councils using cc lists for a mailing That is far too simplistic an answer. [log in to unmask] is a genuine email address but is not personal as it identifies no one and is in fact used by a group. [log in to unmask] may be personal address but does it really identify any one. [log in to unmask] may identify me and my political leanings so might even be sensitive data. An email address is simply an address for correspondence like a PO. Box, is not biographical and is usual non-personal (in my view). Chris Tinsley MSc Wiltshire County Council Information is the key -----Original Message----- From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Trent Sent: 18 October 2006 14:28 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [data-protection] Councils using cc lists for a mailing An email address is data that is capable of uniquely identifying a living individual, and is thus personal data -----Original Message----- From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tinsley, Chris Sent: 18 October 2006 14:17 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [data-protection] Councils using cc lists for a mailing Is an email address personal data? I am sure that this has been discussed before but am not sure that there was any consensus. An email address contains no biographical data so may not be considered personal data. I do believe the council should not advertise everyones address. Chris Tinsley MSc Wiltshire County Council Information is the key -----Original Message----- From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roland Perry Sent: 18 October 2006 13:57 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [data-protection] Councils using cc lists for a mailing I've seen the following report on Usenet, somewhat [redacted] to protect the guilty, what do people think? >I filled in the online consultation for the [high profile County >Council planning proposal] and supplied my email address to be kept >informed of progress. I have just had an email from the county council >informing me of a series of public exhibitions. > >All well and good but the email was sent directly with the list of >almost 1,000 people in the To: field, not as a BCC:. A quick glance at >the list reveals [several local people I recognise]. Can they do this? >Surely basic data protection prevents them broadcasting my email >address to all and sundry. -- Roland Perry ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ All archives of messages are stored permanently and are available to the world wide web community at large at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html If you wish to leave this list please send the command leave data-protection to [log in to unmask] All user commands can be found at : - http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm Any queries about sending or receiving message please send to the list owner [log in to unmask] (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. 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