So we have a typical Telepgraph news article saying that the firm has done something legal and this this is newsworthy.
It seems to me that, with these two paragraphs in it:
"Offering lists of customers to direct marketing is legal, providing companies obey with the Data Protection Act which states that customers must give their formal consent for their details to be shared with third parties.
Party Pieces does allow customers to opt out of having their private details shared when purchasing gifts from the website or requesting a catalogue, and there is no evidence that is has broken the law."
That this is just a slow news day article. It's bad journalism, not that this is unexpected. It is like reporting "Queen has to use lavatory, like all human beings. Shock, Horror!" Or, on page 3 of The Sun "Mandy thinks that world peace is important, so was shocked that even the royal family have to use the toilet."
It is lawful to sell data provided people know this will happen when they contribute their data. Data has a value. We need to get over it. £120 per thousand is reasonable for this type of marketing list.
On 27 Nov 2010, at 13:31, Ibrahim Hasan wrote:
> Kate Middleton's family firm made money by selling customer details:
>
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8162122/Kate-Middletons-family-firm-made-money-by-selling-customer-details.html
>
> Direct marketing companies have been offered identities of customers ranked by age of child and sex of parent, The Times claimed.
>
> The entire list, which can be sold several times over, allegedly costs £20,000, or £120 per 1,000 names.
>
> Ibrahim Hasan
>
> Act Now Training
>
> www.actnow.org.uk
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