Labour's 'Corrie calls' breached privacy
Tuesday, 9 February 2010 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Automated phone calls from the Labour party featuring the voice of a famous Coronation Street star breached privacy rules, the information commissioner said today.
The party used the message, which features the voice of Liz Dawn, who plays Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street, in 2007 without getting the consent of the nearly 500,000 people being called.
A complaint followed and Labour was told to stop using the message.
Today's ruling originates from a message sent out last summer to Labour's core vote during the local and European elections.
"The ICO has consistently made clear that the promotion of a political party counts as marketing," deputy information commissioner David Smith said.
"The fact that the calls were targeted at what were believed to be Labour supporting areas confirmed our view that they were designed to promote the Labour party's electoral cause by encouraging Labour supporters to vote."
An enforcement notice has been served on the party, which Labour has 28 days to appeal.
Failure to comply with enforcement notices can lead to prosecution.
Labour is not the only party to have been given a slap on the wrist for using the automated phone system, dubbed 'robocalls' in the US. The Tories, Lib Dems and the Scottish National party (SNP) have all faced similar rulings.
Householders must have the opportunity to consent to the calls for them to be acceptable.
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