The newly established Information Regulator has to date received 107 complaints relating to the unlawful processing of personal information and access to information, despite not yet being fully operational.

An analysis of these complaints revealed a majority of the complaints relate to banking, insurance and telecommunications, chairperson of the regulator, advocate Pansy Tlakula, told the media.

“It should be noted that most of these complaints relate to direct marketing through unsolicited electronic communications. Citizens are bombarded by e-mails and phoned by marketers but the question is where they get your personal information,” Tlakula said.

Regulator member, professor Tana Pistorius, said at the moment not all sections of the regulator are active, such as the ability to investigate.

“But we accept and deal with the complaints in the best of our ability. We forward complaints to responsible parties and request protective control.”…

http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165017