A spokesman for T-Mobile has confirmed that the international mobile network company has sold millions of individual’s personal data. Explaining that the sales had taken place “without our knowledge”, the firms indiscretions were first made known when a representative contacted the information watchdog’s Christopher Graham.
Explaining that the data meant that rival companies were privy to customer’s end of contract deals, allowing them to be cold called to sell new contracts, Information Commissioner Mr Graham said that it was for this exact reason that new prison sentences were required to prevent cases like this from occurring. Adding that a team from his office had now interviewed employees and inspected the premises he said “Many people will have wondered why and how they are being contacted by someone they do not know just before their existing phone contract is about to expire. We are considering the evidence with a view to prosecuting those responsible and I am keen to go much further and close down the entire unlawful industry in personal data. But, we will only be able to do this if blaggers and others who trade in personal data face the threat of a prison sentence. The existing paltry fines… are simply not enough to deter people from engaging in this lucrative criminal activity. The threat of jail, not fines, will prove a stronger deterrent.”
Meanwhile T-Mobile said that the case was “deeply regrettable” and stated “T-Mobile takes the protection of customer information seriously.”
