Top Web Sites Breach Data Protection Act
Saturday 2 September 2006
Top web sites including eBay, Amazon and Friends Reunited have been accused of breaching key elements of the Data Protection Act.
Research by human rights group Privacy International reveals some of the most successful web companies are deliberately preventing customers from closing their accounts.
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Web sites such as eBay were criticised for making the process difficult, while others such as Amazon and Friends Reunited had no facility whatsoever to delete accounts.
By making it hard or impossible for customers to delete their accounts, the companies are accused of artificially inflating their customer base to create a false indicator of their financial worth.
Privacy International has lodged a complaint and requested a formal investigation, with the first test complaint directed at eBay.
Privacy International web site
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