Not a lot of people know this... but they should

[NaRvIcK DeViL]

Not a lot of people know this... but they should

What companies do with your private data is an emotive subject. As technology leads to more organisations knowing more about you than ever before, controlling who has access to what information has become a big issue - one which the Information Commissioner's office is well aware of, and, broadly speaking, is doing a good job of policing.

Look no further than recent changes to the law which require all 'data controllers' to ask your permission to pass on your details to third parties & associates. In the bad old days, it was assumed you had given this permission unless you specifically stated otherwise.
So in these more enlightened times, you can understand my surprise when I , having recently bought a TV from Argos.co.uk. I didn't check any tick boxes saying 'please do pass on my data to anyone you like'.
I soon received a letter from the TV licensing people telling me that I didn't have a licence even though I'd just ordered a new set.

Argos had clearly passed on my details to TV Licensing without my permission. A data protection breach? Not so. The Information Commissioner's office told us this is allowed under the terms of the 1967 Wireless Telegraphy Act. The data protection act does not apply when it comes to buying a telly. (NB: TV Licensing only gets your name and address: your bank account details are perfectly safe).

Now Did you know that? A recent poll by Yougov.com suggests most people aren't aware that simply buying a TV,Video recorder, DVD player, Digital Box etc, including The 3rd Generation mobile Phones(3G) gives the bloodhounds at TV Licensing a trail to follow.

But in these enlightened times, surely we should be aware of it? Which begs the question: whose job is it to educate us?

Not the Information Commissioner's office. It's nothing to do with them. The BBC? Maybe, although its interest is in getting hold of your cash. It's hardly going to spend time telling you all the ins and outs of its revenue collection process.
That leaves the retailers themselves. I think the responsibility lies squarely with them. How hard is it for an e-tailer to have a pop-up appear on their site when you order spelling things out? How hard is it for the person behind the till to tell you TV Licensing will be informed of your purchase? Not hard at all.
You might think this is a minor issue, and one which only concerns those who want to avoid paying their licence fees. But as I said, these are supposed to be enlightened times. Only if companies tell us EXACTLY what they're doing with our data will we trust them. And that's what the Data Protection Act is all about. Isn’t it ?.

[Robbo]

Retailers are required by legislation to inform the licencing Authority, when someone buys TV reception equipment from them. It has nothing to do with data protection, they could be informed by a simple slip of paper being posted off.

Thought everyone new that anyway.

[fj1200]

They ask for your name and address don't they. It's not to put you on their Christmas card list!