Question About Data Protection (and all that malarky)

nikebee · 25 Apr 2006 at 21:34

'lo all... girlfriend just phoned me up and someone that they don't want to know where they live has just found out (family related - not going into details)... my girlfriends family are X-Directory... but apparently the person that has found out through the web...

through www.192.com - and yes they are on there (i've just looked myself, although you have to join the site to view full details.)

surely there is some law or something that must stop websites like this publishing data where people live, despite them not wanting anyone to know...
although i dont think much can be done, they seem to be using electoral statistics :confused:

cheers for any help/clarity on the situation.

Vertigo · 25 Apr 2006 at 21:47

They usually get it from the electoral roll, and you have the option of hiding your personal details on the "edited" version of this which is made available for public consumption.

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/newsreleasecampaigns.cfm/news/65

PinkPig · 25 Apr 2006 at 21:50

If they're getting information from the Electoral Register, it probably means that your girlfriend (or her family) chose to be on the edited register as well as the full register. The edited register is routinely sold to companies who want to see that information. If you're only on the full register then your information can only be used for electoral and law enforcement purposes, and for checking your address for a credit application.

(Oh, and bear in mind that companies like 192 offer, for a higher price, archived details from old copies of the Electoral register, maybe even from before it was poossible to opt out of the full list, so choosing to be on the edited list just this year won't make your details impossible to find)

Wherever they're getting information from, 192.com is a legitimate site, I very much doubt they're doing anything illegal.

nikebee · 25 Apr 2006 at 21:55

bah bit annoying really cheers for that guys

nikebee · 25 Apr 2006 at 21:57

PinkPig said:
(Oh, and bear in mind that companies like 192 offer, for a higher price, archived details from old copies of the Electoral register, maybe even from before it was poossible to opt out of the full list, so choosing to be on the edited list just this year won't make your details impossible to find)

yeah did notice that, it says that for X-amount you can get these details, and these for this much etc... :-/

paul@ · 25 Apr 2006 at 23:08

Just wondering, is it illegal to use a different name for the electoral register?