Kunal Dutta reports:
Local councils have sold the personal information of individuals to more than 2,700 private companies – including lobbyists, estate agents and fast food outlets – according to new figures.
Data obtained under the Freedom of Information act found at least 307 local councils sold details from the edited electoral register – comprising names and addresses of thousands of voters that have not chosen to opt out– to private firms in transactions worth more than £250,000. Companies that bought the data include the estate agent Foxtons, the lobby group Bell Pottinger and Coast Insurance.
Read more on The Independent. If you’re in the UK and are bothered by junk mail and solicitations, have you opted out? If not, why not?