Someone has divulged my address without my explicit consent WWYD?

redpete

bap98189 wrote: »

There have been all sorts things discussed from the Data Protection to formal motions. At the end of the day it's a small charity, being run by volunteers. The person who gave out your address probably thought he was being helpful, introducing you to another member. It probably never crossed their mind that anyone would have a problem with this.

Forget motions, letters and legal discourse, just ring up the chairman or, and ask them nicely if they would mind not giving out your address without asking first. Then they can tell the relevant committee members.

Or maybe telling them nicely that by giving out personal information (including people's names and addresses) they are not fulfilling their duty to protect such data and that they should not be giving it out. They need to realise the responsibilities they have.

redpete

Alter_ego wrote: »

Your name and address is freely available on the electoral roll, how can that be private information?

Because it is in this case implicitly linked to the person's interest in historic gardening and membership of the society.

Goldiegirl

bap98189 wrote: »

There have been all sorts things discussed from the Data Protection to formal motions. At the end of the day it's a small charity, being run by volunteers. The person who gave out your address probably thought he was being helpful, introducing you to another member. It probably never crossed their mind that anyone would have a problem with this.

Forget motions, letters and legal discourse, just ring up the chairman or, and ask them nicely if they would mind not giving out your address without asking first. Then they can tell the relevant committee members.

Even though it's a small charity, they are still subject to Data Protection laws.

Having worked in the charity sector, I know that lots of these small, local charities are often run by elderly people, who struggle with some of the admin, and don't keep up to date with laws that affect them.

I think I would speak to the chairman, and refer them to the Data Protection Act, and their obligations to keep personal information safe and secure, and that the information should only be used for the running of the charity.... Not for some sort of introduction service!

I'd keep it low key, but would make it clear that what they have done is unacceptable, and, if it happened again, you might have to refer to the Information Commissioners Office for guidance - the ICO has a range of punishments for data breaches, so this would be a significant step to take, so the chairman really should take this matter seriously!

PlutoinCapricorn

Not everyone's address is in the public domain, and even if it could be found anyway by doing some detective work, it should not be handed out in this way. Charities in particular should be aware of the rules about protecting personal data, but unfortunately as others have said people live in the past and trustees are not always aware of their responsibilities.
I remember working for a charity when someone gave another colleague's mobile number to a caller, and this caused her to be pestered by a man: a memo came round about this.

DandelionPatrol

Alter_ego wrote: »

Your name and address is freely available on the electoral roll, how can that be private information?

You really have missed the point.

The electoral role does not convey information about OP being associated with a particular charity. Hence it does not facilitate creepy people turning up and claiming a common interest. Which is really the core of OP's concern.

indsty

I can understand why you are unhappy with the situation, especially given that you don't really take to the gentleman concerned.

However, I think I would simply have a quiet word with the Chairman and ask him to have a quiet word with the person who divulged your address. It is so easy for an issue like this to blow up to a crisis point and I am sure you do not want to hurt the rapport within the charity.

mandragora_2

I think I'd just tell whoever it was who'd given out my information that I wasn't happy about it and ask them not to do it again.

bouicca21

I am involved in running a charity as a volunteer. It is unacceptable to give out information about an individual member - offer to pass information on, yes, give out their details, no.

TBH every organisation I have been involved with - for several decades before DP Act - has taken a similar view; giving out information like that is simply unprofessional.

Jagraf

Don't people tell other people where they live all the time?

Mojisola

Jagraf wrote: »

Don't people tell other people where they live all the time?

You have the right to tell anyone you want where you live.

If you are involved in an organisation covered by the DPA, you don't have the right to pass on other people's addresses to third parties without their permission.