Thursday 16 June 2022 12:16 AM Nuisance caller firms face fines up to £17.5MILLION and ICO will get new powers trends now

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Rogue firms plaguing people with nuisance calls will face massive fines under new plans.

The Data Reform Bill to be published today will pave the way for a crackdown on the growing scourge of unwanted marketing calls and scams by phone, text or email.

The maximum fine for firms that hound people with nuisance calls is to be raised from £500,000 to £17.5 million or 4 per cent of global turnover, whichever is largest.

And the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will be given enhanced enforcement powers.

At present the ICO can penalise firms only for calls that are answered. Under the new plans the watchdog will also be able to take action over high volumes of unanswered calls, including raising the level of fines.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries described the measures as a ‘much-needed clampdown to protect consumers, the elderly and the vulnerable from cold calling’.

Data minister Julia Lopez, who will unveil the proposed legislation, said: ‘We need tough punishments to deter the worst abuses, including the predatory marketing practices of rogue firms that make life a misery for millions.’