Italy fines gas company EUR 11.5 million for unsolicited telemarketing
The Italian Supervisory Authority imposed two fines on Eni Gas and Luce (Egl), totalling EUR 11,5 million, concerning respectively illicit processing of personal data in the context of promotional activities and the activation of unsolicited contracts.
The first fine of EUR 8,5 million relates to unlawful processing in connection with telemarketing and teleselling activities – advertising calls made without the consent of the contacted person or despite that person’s refusal to receive promotional calls, or without triggering the specific procedures for verifying the public opt-out register; the absence of technical and organisational measures to take account of the indications provided by users; longer than permitted data retention periods; and the acquisition of the data on prospective customers from entities (list providers) that had not obtained any consent for the disclosure of such data.
The second fine of EUR 3 million concerns breaches due to the conclusion of unsolicited contracts for the supply of electricity and gas under ‘free market’ conditions – many individuals learned about the conclusion of a new contract only on receiving the letter of termination of the contract with the previous supplier or else the first Egl bills.
