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<p /> <p>The Government has no plans to ban companies from selling personal data to
third parties. The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) does not prohibit disclosures of
personal data to third parties, but it regulates the circumstances in which this can
be done. As a minimum, companies should tell individuals what they are going to do
with their personal data and with whom this will be shared.</p><p> </p><p>In cases
where organisations do not comply with the DPA the Information Commissioner’s Office
(ICO) has a range of powers to take action, including the power to serve a Civil Monetary
Penalty (CMP) of up to £500,000. In the most serious cases, section 55 of the DPA
makes it an offence for a person to knowingly or recklessly obtain, disclose or procure
the disclosure of personal data without the consent of the data controller. The offence
is punishable by an unlimited fine for cases heard in the Crown Court and a fine of
a maximum of £5,000 for cases heard in the magistrates’ courts.</p>
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