Data Protection Commission cracks down on cold calling

Today is European Data Protection Day. Its aim is to make people more aware of their rights under the Data Protection Act.

Every person has the right to access personal data, whether it is held by an employer, the Government, the Gardaí or the health sector.

Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes is also advising people that they have the right to get junk mail and cold calls stopped.

He is urging people who are plagued by cold calls to inform their telephone company they do not want to receive marketing calls.

Once this is done, cold calling becomes an offence after a month has passed.

Young people are also being targeted to ensure they are protected while on websites like Bebo and MySpace.

Teenagers are being warned to be vigilant about cyber-bullying on these sites.

The Data Protection Commission is working closely with the privacy officers on these sites to ensure there are procedures in place to remove offensive material when it appears.