The office of the Data Protection Commissioner is investigating a complaint filed by Go last month claiming Melita sent Go customers unsolicited promotional text messages, The Times Business has learned. Vodafone made a similar complaint.
Sources said Go received a number of complaints from customers over a period of time by phone or e-mail. The text messages promoted Melita offers including free handsets and calls, and cheaper rates and tickets for the Abba tribute show for Melita Mobile subscribers joining the new network last month. Communications group Melita launched its mobile phone operation in February.
Go wrote to the Data Protection Commissioner in mid-March claiming it believed Melita illegally obtained and processed Go customers' personal information. It claimed that its customers had no direct relationship with Melita and would not have consented for their details to be obtained by Melita.
The telecoms provider called on the Commissioner to immediately investigate and take action against Melita for failing to comply with its data protection obligations.
Vodafone Malta confirmed that it has also written to the Data Protection Commissioner's office about the matter.
"Vodafone filed a report with the Data Protection Commissioner regarding SMS messages promoting the services and prices of Melita Mobile received by our employees," a company spokesman told The Times Business.
"It is unclear whether these messages were sent by Melita Cable or by Melita Mobile, since the sources of these messages claimed to be 'Melita'. Our employees have confirmed that they never disclosed their mobile number to Melita Mobile, hence it would seem that these numbers were obtained by Melita irregularly."
Sources said Go received a number of complaints from customers over a period of time by phone or e-mail. The text messages promoted Melita offers including free handsets and calls, and cheaper rates and tickets for the Abba tribute show for Melita Mobile subscribers joining the new network last month. Communications group Melita launched its mobile phone operation in February.
Go wrote to the Data Protection Commissioner in mid-March claiming it believed Melita illegally obtained and processed Go customers' personal information. It claimed that its customers had no direct relationship with Melita and would not have consented for their details to be obtained by Melita.
The telecoms provider called on the Commissioner to immediately investigate and take action against Melita for failing to comply with its data protection obligations.
Vodafone Malta confirmed that it has also written to the Data Protection Commissioner's office about the matter.
"Vodafone filed a report with the Data Protection Commissioner regarding SMS messages promoting the services and prices of Melita Mobile received by our employees," a company spokesman told The Times Business.
"It is unclear whether these messages were sent by Melita Cable or by Melita Mobile, since the sources of these messages claimed to be 'Melita'. Our employees have confirmed that they never disclosed their mobile number to Melita Mobile, hence it would seem that these numbers were obtained by Melita irregularly."