Net legal problem for Golden Pages

The online version of the Golden Pages telephone directory, in which Eircom has a majority holding, may have violated the Data…

The online version of the Golden Pages telephone directory, in which Eircom has a majority holding, may have violated the Data Protection Act. Following notification of possible non-compliance with the Act, Eircom instructed the Golden Pages to shut down the personal directory section of the site last week.

Eircom spokeswoman Ms Majella Fitzpatrick said some of the complaints related to the function allowing a user to obtain an individual's phone number by entering their address and name.

The issues were brought to Eircom's attention by the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC). According to a DPC spokesman, "Basically, we did receive complaints about the Golden Pages website because people were concerned about the use of the telephone directory in that manner.

"We raised possible breaches of Data Protection law but cannot specify them because the investigation is ongoing," he said.

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A notice within the Golden Pages site explains to customers: "We are currently reviewing issues relating to the Data Protection Act and pending their resolution the Personal Finder on www.goldenpages.ie is temporarily unavailable."

The business listing section and other areas are still operating.

Eircom was notified of the complaints several months ago and was asked to suspend the Golden Pages section until the outstanding issues were resolved, said Ms Fitzpatrick. A CD-Rom containing the same information was also called into question by the DPC but no action will be taken until a decision is made by the Commissioner's office.

The Data Protection Act, 1988 covers personal records in a computerised form. At the moment, manual data may be placed into electronic form without individuals' consent.

However, the holder of the electronic data must remove it if requested to do so by the individual.