Parties warned on election emails after data protection breaches

THE Data Protection Commissioner has written to political parties to warn them about texting and emailing people in the run-up to the general election.

The office said it had received numerous complaints during previous campaigns.

Commissioner Billy Hawkes has warned them against using information from third parties to contact voters. During previous election campaigns the commissioner received numerous complaints from individuals in receipt of unsolicited SMS (text) messages, emails and phone calls from parties and candidates for election.