In 2023, the Data Protection Authority received complaints from several private individuals who had received emails containing political advertising from the majority parties in Stavanger (Labour, Green, Red, Centre, Socialist Left and Progress). We have now made a final decision to reprimand the Stavanger Labour Party – on behalf of the majority parties.
Note: This article was originally published on September 11th 2024, in Norwegian. This is a translation of the original article.
The email in question was sent on 20 August 2023 in connection with the local government elections, to the parents of children in kindergartens and schools in the City of Stavanger. The parents’ contact information was reportedly disclosed by the City of Stavanger in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
The complaints to the Data Protection Authority questioned the legality of both the City of Stavanger’s and the majority parties’ processing of personal data. When personal information is obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, further use of the information must be in accordance with the rules set out in the Personal Data Act and the General Data Protection Regulation.
On the basis of the complaints, the Data Protection Authority sent a request for a statement to the Stavanger Labour Party, on behalf of the majority parties. We requested, among other things, an account of the purpose of and legal basis for the processing.
After receiving its response, the Data Protection Authority has now made a decision to issue a reprimand to the Stavanger Labour Party, on behalf of the majority parties, for:
The case has been closed by the Data Protection Authority.