Unsolicited UCD texts? Don't get mad.. prosecute!

passive

Okay... As has been discussed in both the SU election thread and the QSOC bulk texts thread; Several organisations/candidates for election in UCD care not for our privacy and feel they are free to spam us for their ends, whether or not we have ever given them our numbers in the first place.

This, fortunately, is illegal. As on www.dataprotection.ie "Data protection is about your fundamental right to privacy. You can access and correct data about yourself. Those who keep data about you have to comply with data protection principles."

The complaint form by which you can get the data protection commissioner involved is available here: http://www.dataprotection.ie/viewdoc.asp?m=r&fn=/documents/forms/complaint_form.pdf
Or you can fill in an online complaint form here:
http://www.dataprotection.ie/viewdoc.asp?m=r&fn=/documents/complaint/default.asp

I plan on taking action against the Qsoc/commday text myself and hopefully against Dave Redmond's campaign texts.
This can, if successful, result in a fine of e3000 (I think) for the offenders. I'm uncertain exactly what details you are required to provide about who sent the text (All i have is Dave4ents and Qsoc/Comday) so if anybody can add to this with any advice on what information is needed then please do so!

Have a nice, spam-free day.

Sangre

You want to fine a chairty event (commday) €3000?
Aren't you a saint fighting the good fight.

arbeitsscheuer

I like getting unsolicited texts...


...makes me feel wanted.:(

"Ooooh look, I got a text!

...

Oh, no wait, it's BFM wanting me to poster for em again..."

/mood noticably spirals downward

singingstranger

SebtheBum wrote:

"Ooooh look, I got a text!

...

Oh, no wait, it's BFM wanting me to poster for em again..."

Damn Redmond and his BFM circulars!

Anyway, though, I'd love to see a boards.ie collective trying to get together and have something done about this whole thing. We can't just sit idly and let it happen or else it'll only get higher...

Riamfada

or you could delete the texts? Im very careful who get my number in UCD (Soc wise) .

passive

You want to fine a chairty event (commday) €3000?
Aren't you a saint fighting the good fight.

Well... I hadn't thought about that... My first reaction is "No: I want societies like Qsoc to **** off because i never gave them my number and I didn't fully think about what comm day is"

Then i thought about it a little more... And i realised Qsoc probably won't take the money from the charity if they're prosecuted for illegally texting me. Wouldn't you agree? (edit: and i doubt everyone gets fine e3000..I think it's the maximum.. I'd be happy with them getting a formal giving out to..)

panda100

I agree with Seb on this one!It's only a text-sure isnt it good to know what's going on in UCD,it's not like you're being plagues evety day by these texts-it's only once in a while.

The_Minister

Am I the only one who appreciates the irony of someone called passive trying to start a campaign?

singingstranger

Firespinner wrote:

Am I the only one who appreciates the irony of someone called passive trying to start a campaign?

Got that too, chuckled at the irony!

Riamfada

12:07 Grimes chuckles in the library. Librocop unimpressed

passive

Actually i thought of that too ..

But the agressive is implied... it's the second half...

nevermind...:( Boards needs sadder sad faces. These ones are too angry..
(edit: and hey seb, give me your number and i'll make you feel loved! it'll involve lots of solicitation...)

HappyCrackHead

Sangre wrote:

You want to fine a chairty event (commday) €3000?
Aren't you a saint fighting the good fight.

screw that... fact of the matter is they're breaking the law. and lets face it, commerce students arent gonna grow up to be Robin Hoods. if they'd text me, or dave redmond had, i would sue the mother-effing pants off them.

also this isnt an isolated incident. there have been cases in the past, as recently as 2 years ago, of large socities we're talking the law soc/Qsoc/B&L's of this world, sold their membership lists to advertising companies who aimed their clients products at students. i've said it before and i'll say it again, big societies are evil.

gee bags

Sangre

passive wrote:

Well... I hadn't thought about that... My first reaction is "No: I want societies like Qsoc to **** off because i never gave them my number and I didn't fully think about what comm day is"

Then i thought about it a little more... And i realised Qsoc probably won't take the money from the charity if they're prosecuted for illegally texting me. Wouldn't you agree? (edit: and i doubt everyone gets fine e3000..I think it's the maximum.. I'd be happy with them getting a formal giving out to..)

Qsoc has nothing to do with commday.

There would be a separate commday committe with its own people and funds.

anonymous_joe

HappyCrackHead wrote:

screw that... fact of the matter is they're breaking the law. and lets face it, commerce students arent gonna grow up to be Robin Hoods. if they'd text me, or dave redmond had, i would sue the mother-effing pants off them.

also this isnt an isolated incident. there have been cases in the past, as recently as 2 years ago, of large socities we're talking the law soc/Qsoc/B&L's of this world, sold their membership lists to advertising companies who aimed their clients products at students. i've said it before and i'll say it again, big societies are evil.

gee bags

Pretty insulting, mate. Care to offer some proof for that little gem?

passive

Qsoc has nothing to do with commday.

There would be a separate commday committe with its own people and funds.

The message came from "Qsoc/comday". That's the name at the head of it... my issue is how they got their number and whether or not they should be texting me. If i got a text from oxfam or anything else tomorrow i'd probably tell them to **** off in the same manner. Just cos they're a charity doesn't mean they can illegally get my contact details and pester me.

All that said i'm still not sure exactly what to put in the complaint so i haven't yet.. I don't have a number that the message came from. It just says QSOC/Comday as i mentioned.

randombassist

As far as I know you can only take action for unsolicited texts if they continue to pester you, after you've asked to be removed from their database...

Blush_01

Well if you've never given them your details you have a right to know who has, wouldn't you think?

The idea of leaving it because it's too much hassle to organise punishing someone who broke the law is stupid. That mentality won't get you anywhere. Shame on you. Now give me back my specs. I can't see without them.

John_C

I propose a motion that the SU look into what details are needed to prosecute, get the necessary details from a willing student and take a test case. Donate the proceeds to the student hardship fund.

One case should be enough to scare off any more of this.

Blush_01

I second that motion.

Stabshauptmann

Redmond claimed to know everyone on said list to one degree or another, so all you can do is ask to be removed from his list.

As for sueing CommDay, I think its pretty low and selfish and I hope you loose. Its about as noble as the ****wits abusing collectors and defacing posters because coca-cola were sponsoring it.
Its CHARITY. Commerce students dont get much out of it and TBH, if they got the number from ents, then its perfectly legal because this is exactly the type of info you agreed to recieve from them.

Blush_01

So it's ok for charity to break the law? Give me a break! That's complete codswallop.

Besides, as far as I can see, it's Q-Soc who're at fault here, not CommDay.

zap

yep you're right it wud be qsoc's fault - they provided your number to comm day - u gav qsoc ur num - not comm day so its qsoc that is at fault.

Stabshauptmann

who had your number blush, qsoc, SU or neither (as far as you knew)?

singingstranger

For my tuppence, the Ents Office has my number but the QSoc text I got had nothing to do with Ents, because it was looking for volunteers. That's not news on Entertainments events that I signed up for. I'm not a member of QSoc and am very confused as to where they did get my number from - unless they're collaborating with C&E (who have my number - but them working hand in hand is very unlikely) on it...

Blush_01

I didn't get the texts, I never said I did. The only texts I've received that I didn't ask for or want were ones from the SU and one from PokerSoc regarding the Valentine's Ball. Q-Soc et al definitely don't have my number! I'm not completely daft. After the situation with C&E/B&L selling members numbers to Anabels etc. when I was in first year, I learned my lesson - never join stupid societies, and never give them your number!

Stabshauptmann

singingstranger wrote:

For my tuppence, the Ents Office has my number but the QSoc text I got had nothing to do with Ents, because it was looking for volunteers. That's not news on Entertainments events that I signed up for. I'm not a member of QSoc and am very confused as to where they did get my number from - unless they're collaborating with C&E (who have my number - but them working hand in hand is very unlikely) on it...

"Hey!Dont forget 2 register 4 comm day5aside soccar tournament dis thi @10.30am in quinn-great prizes!also tkts 4 tramco dis thurs in quinn/arts €7!
from: QSOC/ComDay"

Well ents were involved in the final fling in tramco - there logo is on the posters.
I sent the comday commitee an email to see where they got their database from, dont expect any reply over the weekend but Ill post whatever I do get here

passive

And i return.. Brussels is fun. Nice discussion going on here .. I think, for now, i'll just contact Qsoc and ask for my number to be removed, ask B&L same (i think i already got C&E.. though i had unfortunately signed up for those two myself..)

But i will keep the data protection thing in mind for any future infringments on my mental health and inbox space. And i'll.. I dunno.. Hit Dave Redmond with a mortar launcher and continue demanding recounts (note to self: check SU election thread to see how that played out)

Claimed to know me? liar...

singingstranger

passive wrote:

Hit Dave Redmond with a mortar launcher and continue demanding recounts (note to self: check SU election thread to see how that played out)

/listens out for a gasp in the nearby woods