Mail victory as charities are fined for snooping
WATCHDOGS last night fined some of the country’s most trusted charities after the Daily Mail exposed how fundraisers were prying into the finances of millions of donors.
The charities – including Cancer Research UK, the NSPCC and Guide Dogs for the Blind – paid investigators for information on their supporters’ incomes, the value of their homes and their friendship circles.
Donors were ranked according to their wealth and whether they were likely to leave money to charities in their wills. Cancer patients had their details shared with firms that run prize promotions and sell health supplements, putting them at risk of being scammed.
The benefactors had no idea the charities were snooping on them and swapping their data, or that the money they had given so generously was being used to fund the processes. Yesterday, 11 charities were fined a total of £138,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for breaking data laws. The RSPCA and British Heart Foundation were fined a total of £43,000 in December. Their humiliation comes after a Daily Mail investigation in 2015 that exposed how fundraisers were coldcalling vulnerable people and sharing donors’ personal data without their permission. Last night, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham thanked the Mail.
‘Millions of people will have been affected by these charities’ contravention of the law,’ she said. ‘This is an important issue that came to light thanks to determined and thorough investigative journalism.’ Civil society minister Rob Wilson added: ‘We have been working with the sector to ensure these practices don’t happen again. It is vital charities have the trust of the public.’
The Mail Investigations Unit revealed that charities used cold-calling firms to pester vulnerable people for money, and make calls to homes on the Government’s ‘no-call’ list – the Telephone Preference Service.
The revelations followed the death of 92-year-old poppy seller Olive Cooke, who killed herself after becoming ‘overwhelmed’ by charity begging letters. Our articles led to a Government inquiry, the reform of fundraising rules and the establishment of a new tough regulator. We also revealed how charities were secretly trading donors’ private information. Former Army colonel Samuel Rae, who is 87 and has dementia, lost £35,000 to criminals after his details were passed on up to 200 times by charities.
The RSPCA obtained his information in 2005 when he took out pet insurance. Two years later, it began sending his data to a firm specialising in legacy prediction. His details were passed on at least four times to establish a score estimating his wealth. Last night, Mr Rae’s son Chris said: ‘The ICO fines are a step forward but there is more that can be done to protect people.’
The NSPCC said its failings – which did not include selling or sharing data – were ‘unintentional’ and the fine will be paid by ‘friends of the charity’, not donors. The International Fund For Animal Welfare said it would pay its fine from investment income.
Cancer Research UK said the charity ‘has not used supporters’ data in ways which we believed were incompatible with their desire to help us beat cancer sooner’, while Cancer Support UK said: ‘We consider the fine illfounded, excessive and disproportionate.’
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home said it will pay its fine from investment income. Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and WWF all apologised to their supporters and said they will not use public donations to pay the fines.
Guide Dogs For The Blind apologised sincerely, while the Royal British Legion said: ‘We are confident no such contraventions will happen in future.’ Oxfam GB and the British Heart Foundation both said they took the protection of their supporters’ data ‘seriously’. The RSPCA said it no longer screened donors for wealth information.
‘Fines are a step forward’