27th Oct 2020 13:56
(Alliance News) - Consumer credit checker Experian PLC on Tuesday said will appeal against an enforcement order issued by the UK information watchdog in relation to handling of consumer data.
The enforcement notice, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, has ordered the company to make "fundamental changes" to how it handles the data.
The British data watchdog said: "The enforcement notice follows a two-year investigation by the ICO into how Experian, Equifax Ltd and TransUnion Information Group Ltd used personal data within their data broking businesses for direct marketing purposes."
Experian Chief Executive Brian Cassin said: "We disagree with the ICO's decision today and we intend to appeal. At heart this is about the interpretation of General Data Protection Regulation and we believe the ICO's view goes beyond the legal requirements. This interpretation also risks damaging the services that help consumers, thousands of small businesses and charities, particularly as they try to recover from the Covid-19 crisis."
Cassin went on to say that Experian and the ICO share the same goal of providing transparency, maintaining privacy and ensuring consumers are in control of their data. But the demands made by the ICO may impact on "thousands of small businesses and charities" that use Experian's data as they recover from the negative impact of Covid-19.
"Around two thirds of the firms that use our marketing services employ fewer than 200 people each. Many of these small businesses are in sectors that have been hit hardest by the Covid-19 crisis: over 30% of the income in our marketing services business comes from sectors such as retail, leisure, automotive and travel," Cassin said.
The enforcement notice only applies to Experian's UK marketing services business.
Experian stressed that the enforcement notice is not a fine. It is a list of actions that reflect the ICO's interpretation of the EU GDPR as it relates to the company's UK marketing services business.
Shares in Experian were down 0.12% at 2,945.00 pence each in London on Tuesday afternoon.
By Greg Roxburgh; [email protected]
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