West Midland councils make £100k from selling personal data
Councils across the West Midlands have made nearly £100,000 by selling residents’ personal information, new figures reveal.
According to data released via a Freedom of Information request, in the last six years local authorities across the region have sold data from the electoral register to hundreds of organisations and individuals.
The buyers include credit reference agencies, insurance companies, property agencies, political lobbyists and politicians, who pay up to £600 for a full copy of the register, which includes the names and addresses of voters in each area.
The data shows transactions dating back to 2012 for seven local authorities in the West Midlands, which collectively brought in £97,501.50 from selling the register.
Councils insist they are legally obliged to sell the register and fees charged are set by the Electoral Commission.
But critics warn unscrupulous firms are abusing the system for marketing and publicity purposes.
Big Brother Watch director Silkie Carlo said: “No public authority should sell residents’ personal information to private entities for profit. This sale of data leaves us open to targeted advertising and undermines trust in councils.
“The open register should be opt in rather than opt out – that way, we could truly see how many people want their data sold for marketing purposes.”
Dudley Council made £13,825 in the last five years. The vast majority of the sales were to credit reference agencies, although a firm specialising in planning weddings shelled out £423.50 for an edited version of the list.
Walsall Council has sold the register 15 times in the last four years, bringing in £7,037.
Wolverhampton Council made £8,664.50 over the last four years, with the majority of sales made to credit agencies including Experian, US firm Equifax and Crediva.
Shropshire Council has made £5514.50 since 2016.
Telford & Wrekin Council has made £12,054 from selling data since 2012, with figures showing two sales this year to political parties and six sales in the last two years to councillors.
Stafford Borough Council made £10,166.50 over the last six years from selling the full register, and a further £324 from sales of the open register to individuals.
Birmingham City Council has brought in £39,916 since 2012 – with buyers including estate agents, universities and a firm that specialises in selling cheap furniture.
Lib Dem campaigner Rob Quarmby said: “Councils have raked in thousands by flogging our data to businesses and credit rating agencies.
“On one hand councils talk about stopping cold calling and doorstep selling and on the other hand sell our data to anyone who is willing to offer them a cheque. All in all it’s pretty two-faced.”
