Reform UK risks breaching data protection laws with its competition to win free energy bills for a year, lawyers and data experts have warned. Nigel Farage announced the lottery on Tuesday, encouraging people to sign up via a website for a chance to have their energy bills paid for a year, along with those of their entire street.
To enter, participants must disclose their name, email, telephone number, how they voted at the last election, and how they intend to vote at the next one. Experts say this could be unlawful. Mariano delli Santi, legal and policy officer at Open Rights Group, said: 'Reform are asking the public to hand over sensitive data about their voting habits without being transparent about how it will be used.'
Delli Santi described this as a clear breach of transparency obligations under UK data protection law, adding: 'Political opinions are among the most sensitive types of personal data, and voters must be able to engage in campaigns without feeling pressured to trade their privacy for the chance of material benefit. The Information Commissioner’s Office must investigate.'
Eleonor Duhs, a privacy barrister, said: 'You have to be clear, open and honest about how and why you are collecting data and you shouldn’t be collecting more data than you need. If you say your purpose is a raffle, why are they asking for people’s voting intention? That seems to go beyond the purpose of the raffle.'
Reform UK defended the contest, with a spokesperson saying: 'We are entirely confident that this competition is legal. Reform UK is the only party serious about cutting energy bills.' The party also said the raffle complied with electoral laws forbidding bribing voters. The Information Commissioner’s Office stated it is in regular contact with political parties about data use and encourages people with concerns to complain.
