60% of businesses lose data

23/06/2008

Almost 60% of marketing professionals admit to having lost customers’ personal data in the last two years.

And in 90% of cases, the loss went unreported – either because the businesses felt they weren’t required to report the loss, or they were unsure whether they needed to.

The figures, uncovered by email marketing firm StrongMail, found many firms are prepared to share ‘the type of personal data that would horrify civil liberty and data privacy groups’.

Although three quarters of respondents to the survey said they limit the types of personal information they share with other companies for marketing purposes, just under 10% said they disclose customers’ sexual orientation.

One in seven admitted to sharing details about their customers’ political affiliation, while one in 20 said they give details of ethnic background. Shockingly, almost 20% said they share customer credit card details.

Paul Bates, email marketing expert and managing director of StrongMail UK, said businesses have a ‘cavalier’ attitude to data protection.

“They have a moral, ethical obligation to keep private, personal customer data safe and secure,” he added.

“They should not be handing it out to third parties in the hope of making a fast buck. If they choose to do this, and then lose customer data, then they should at least be obliged to admit it.”