The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) has said that unsolicited marketing emails, can attract a fine of up to €5,000 for retailers.
Following a recent series of audits carried out 'in order to assess how organisations gather and process personal data in the course of providing electronic receipts (e-receipts) to customers', it found that the e-receipts, were being used to issue marketing material.
The DPC has produced a guidance around the use of e-receipts 'to assist retailers adhere to best practice in this regard'.
Customer Consent
In the guidance, the independent national authority advised retailers that 'where an e-mail address is collected for the purpose of sending an e-receipt, the customer should not subsequently receive marketing e-mails unless the retailer had flagged, and the customer consented to, this additional purpose at the outset'.
The DPC said that retailers should have a means to electronically record whether a customer has agreed to receive marketing or not.
"In circumstances where the DPC is investigating an alleged breach of the rules on electronic marketing, the onus is on retailers to demonstrate that they had a subscriber's consent to send a marketing message." It said.
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
