AEPD (Spain) - PS/00258/2020
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| AEPD (Spain) - PS/00258/2020 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Authority: | AEPD (Spain) |
| Jurisdiction: | Spain |
| Relevant Law: | Article 21 GDPR Article 48(1)(b) Telecommunications Act |
| Type: | Complaint |
| Outcome: | Upheld |
| Started: | |
| Decided: | 17.06.2021 |
| Published: | 21.06.2021 |
| Fine: | 12000 EUR |
| Parties: | AUDAX RENOVABLES, S.A. |
| National Case Number/Name: | PS/00258/2020 |
| European Case Law Identifier: | n/a |
| Appeal: | n/a |
| Original Language(s): | Spanish |
| Original Source: | AEPD (in ES) |
| Initial Contributor: | n/a |
The Spanish DPA (AEPD) fined an energy company €12,000 for making marketing calls to a data subject that had signed up to a Robinson List.
English Summary
Facts
A data subject lodged a complaint with the Spanish DPA (AEPD) against an energy company. The company had called them for commercial reasons, despite the data subject having signed up for the Robinson List a few months before. A Robinson List is an opt-out list for people who do not wish to receive marketing communications.
Holding
The AEPD remarked that the Spanish Telecommunications Act (LGT) forbids, in its Article 48(1)(b), commercial communications when the subject has opposed to them. The DPA also related this prohibition to Article 21 GDPR, which gives the data subject the right to oppose to the processing of their personal data.
The controller alleged that the LGT was not applicable to the case, since the main activity of the energy company is not related to telecommunications. However, the DPA argued that Article 48(1)(b) GDPR is applicable to commercial communications, regardless of the main activity of the company that carries out such communications.
Therefore, the AEPD concluded that the controller had ignored the right to oppose to the processing of the data subject, exercised via the inclusion in the Robinson List, and therefore violated Article 48(1)(b) GDPR. The DPA fined the controller €12,000.
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English Machine Translation of the Decision
The decision below is a machine translation of the Spanish original. Please refer to the Spanish original for more details.
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Procedure No. PS / 00258/2020
RESOLUTION OF SANCTIONING PROCEDURE
Of the procedure instructed by the Spanish Agency for Data Protection and based on
to the following:
BACKGROUND
FIRST: D. A.A.A. (hereinafter, the claimant) dated May 16, 2020
filed a claim with the Spanish Data Protection Agency. The
claim is directed against AUDAX RENOVABLES, S.A. with CIF A62338827 (in
forward, the claimed one).
The reasons on which the claim is based are the following:
"Yesterday, 05/15/2020 at 12:39 I received a call to my mobile phone
*** PHONE 1 of the number *** PHONE 2 of a person named B.B.B. So what
Call on behalf of Audax to offer me a discount on my electricity bill.
I explain that I have not asked for any information or discount at any time and
that I have been on the Robinson List for years, of which he tells me
he does not know what it is or what it is for. It is already the third call that I receive from them in
one month. I ask you for information about where they got my number and name and I
He says that from a list that has been passed to him. I orally request that I do not want
more information and that they do not call me again like the other two calls
previous, but these continue to occur. […] "
Along with the claim, provide the following documents:
1. Invoice stating that the mobile number where the call was received is
contracted on behalf of the claimant.
2. Screenshots of the Robinson List service where the
mobile number where the call was received and where you have also opposed the sending
advertising in other sections such as the sanctioned entity. Has been marked
among others, the section on “Energy and water: products related to
electricity, hydrocarbons, gas and water ”, as the type of company to be blocked.
SECOND: In view of the facts denounced in the claim and the
documents provided by the claimant, the Subdirectorate General for Inspection of
Data proceeded to transfer the claim in accordance with the provisions
in article 65.4 of Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, on the Protection of
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Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights (hereinafter LOPDGDD).
This transfer was notified on June 9, 2020.
THIRD: The Director of the Spanish Data Protection Agency admitted to
processing the claim by agreement of August 12, 2020.
FOURTH: By Agreement dated November 5, 2020, the Director of the
Spanish Data Protection Agency agreed to initiate a sanctioning procedure at the
claimed for the alleged violation of Article 48.1.b) of the LGT of Law 9/2014,
of May 9, General of Telecommunications (hereinafter LGT), typified in the
Article 78.11 of the aforementioned rule, and that the sanction that may correspond to it would be
of 12,000 euros, without prejudice to what results from the instruction.
FIFTH: The defendant presented allegations to the agreement to initiate the procedure
sanctioner on December 10, 2020, stating that he did not carry out any
call the claimant and that they do not have any personal data of the claimant in their
database.
It adds that the call to the claimant was made by an external commercial agent, who has
commercial relationship with the claimed and that they have communicated in writing to the agent
commercial that the claimant does not wish to receive advertising calls and he confirms
that has proceeded to delete your data.
Attach as document number 2 a copy of the certificate issued by the indicated agent
comercial, Fundraising F2F, S.L., certifying the deletion of the data of the
claimant.
Likewise, it states that it is engaged in an activity different from that regulated by the LGT,
since it does not operate telecommunication networks, nor does it provide
electronic communications, but is dedicated to acquiring energy for sale to the
final consumer.
On the other hand, it indicates that in the documentation of this sanctioning procedure
identifies with date and time a single call made to the claimant, although it is not
provides documentary accreditation of it, not even a screenshot and for
Therefore, the call cannot be included in the infraction included in the
article 48.1.b) of the LGT.
Likewise, they indicate that the claimant does not certify that he is enrolled in the List
Robinson.
SIXTH: On February 11, 2021, the instructor of the procedure agreed to the
opening of a period of practical tests, taking as incorporated the
preliminary investigation actions, E / 04031/2020, as well as the documents
provided by the claimed and the claimant.
By Agreement dated May 13, 2021, the Director of the Spanish Agency
of Data Protection agreed to change the Instructor of this procedure
sanctioner, notified to the defendant on the 14th of the same month and year.
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SEVENTH: On May 26, 2021, the examining body issued a Proposal for
Resolution in the following terms:
<That the Director of the Spanish Data Protection Agency sanctions
AUDAX RENOVABLES, S.A. with CIF A62338827, with a fine of € 12,000 (twelve thousand
euros) for the violation of article 48.1.b) of the LGT Law classified as “mild” in the
article 78.11) of the aforementioned LGT Law in relation to article 21 of the RGPD, and the
Article 23.4 of the LOPDGDD>.
EIGHTH: On June 9, 2021, the defendant presented allegations to the
Proposed Resolution:
1.- It is reiterated in the absence of participation and guilt the facts that are the object
of sanction.
2.- It indicates that the defendant is a company that sells electricity and gas, not a
telecommunications company and, as such, is not part of the subjective scope of the
LGT.
3.- The file of the sanctioning procedure is agreed without imposition of sanction
some.
PROVEN FACTS
FIRST: The claimant submitted to this AEPD on May 16, 2020, a
claim against the defendant for telephone calls, the last one dated 15
May 2020 from the line *** TELEPHONE 2, from advertising content to your number
line (*** PHONE. 1) despite being included in the exclusion list
adigital's robinson advertising since March 16, 2010.
SECOND: It consists in the invoice procedure where the mobile number appears
where the call has been received and is contracted on behalf of the claimant.
THIRD: The claimant certifies that he is included in the exclusion list
ADigital's robinson advertisement since March 16, 2010, where the number
mobile phone where the call was received and also the section
relative to “Energy and water: products related to electricity, hydrocarbons,
gas and water ”, as the type of company to be blocked.
FOURTH: The claimed person is responsible for the treatment now analyzed when carrying out
effect of the advertising calls to the claimant when the calling entity acts as a
of the person in charge of the treatment in the name on behalf of the
determines ownership and means. This is proven in this procedure.
FIFTH: The defendant learned of the claim through this AEPD
due to the request for information dated June 9, 2020 and dated June 9,
December 2020 has proceeded to delete the claimant's data from its database
data.
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SIXTH: There is no evidence of the implementation of corrective measures for filtering with the
Robinson Adigital listing nor has provided, after the request of this AEPD,
communication with the claimant about the steps taken regarding the
claim in order to minimize the impact on the claimant, despite knowing the
contact details of the claimant through the transfer of the claim for this
AEPD on June 9, 2020.
FOUNDATIONS OF LAW
I
In accordance with the provisions of article 84.3) of the LGT, the competence to
initiate and resolve this Penalty Procedure corresponds to the Director of
the Spanish Agency for Data Protection.
II
Regarding the allegations presented by the person responsible for the claim, it is necessary to
note the following:
It is proven before this AEPD that the treatment now analyzed by the aforementioned
entity is carried out in the name and on behalf of the claimed party, the latter acting in
quality of person in charge when defining the purpose and means. In this regard, the very
claimed brings up that the call to the claimant was made by a commercial agent
external, which has a commercial relationship with the claimed and which they have communicated by
written to the commercial agent that the claimant does not wish to receive advertising calls and
This confirms that it has proceeded to delete your data.
From the allegation itself it is inferred that the complained party is responsible for the treatment
now analyzed, since the defendant confirms that he is the one who facilitates the
instructions for the treatment that is entrusted to the entities that use their
own databases on purpose and means.
The defendant adds that the LGT is not applicable to him, as it is a company that is dedicated
to acquire energy for sale to the final consumer.
Well, the scope of the LGT is telephone calls as in the
present case, regardless of the subject who carried them out.
Consequently, the LGT is fully applicable to the defendant.
Article 48.1.b) of Law 9/2014, of May 9, General Telecommunications
which indicates that the final consumer b) To oppose receiving unwanted calls with
commercial communication purposes that are carried out through systems other than those
established in the previous letter and to be informed of this right. ".
Therefore, there is no doubt, given the regulation, that the claimant (final consumer)
received a call on May 15, 2020 from line *** TELEPHONE. 2, from
advertising content to your line number (*** PHONE. 1) despite being included
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on ADigital's robinson advertising exclusion list since March 16,
2010.
On the other hand, the defendant states that in the documentation of this
sanctioning procedure a single call made is identified with date and time
to the claimant, although no documentary proof of it is provided, not even
a screenshot and thus makes the call unable to be framed in the
infringement contained in article 48.1.b) of the LGT.
As has been indicated, the claimant has provided screenshots of the
Robinson List service where the mobile number is included where it has been
received the call and where the section relating to “Energy and
water: products related to electricity, hydrocarbons, gas and water ”, such as
type of company to be blocked, and also accredits the call received.
Consequently, the allegations must be rejected.
III
Article 21 of the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, hereinafter
RGPD), regarding the right of opposition, states the following:
"1. The interested party will have the right to object at any time, for reasons
related to your particular situation, what personal data concerning you
are subject to a treatment based on the provisions of Article 6 (1),
letters e) or f), including profiling based on these provisions.
The data controller will stop processing personal data, unless
prove compelling legitimate reasons for the treatment that prevail over the
interests, rights and freedoms of the interested party, or for the formulation, the
exercise or defense of claims.
2. When the purpose of the processing of personal data is marketing
direct, the interested party will have the right to object at any time to the treatment of
personal data concerning you, including profiling in the
insofar as it is related to the aforementioned marketing.
3. When the interested party opposes the treatment for direct marketing purposes,
personal data will no longer be processed for these purposes.
4. At the latest at the time of the first communication with the interested party, the
right indicated in sections 1 and 2 will be explicitly mentioned to the interested party
and it will be presented clearly and apart from any other information.
5. In the context of the use of information society services, and not
Notwithstanding the provisions of Directive 2002/58 / EC, the interested party may exercise his
right to object by automated means that apply specifications
techniques.
6. When personal data is processed for scientific research or
historical or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89 (1), the
The interested party will have the right, for reasons related to their particular situation, to
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oppose the processing of personal data concerning you, unless it is
necessary for the fulfillment of a mission carried out for reasons of interest
public".
IV
Article 48.1.b) of Law 9/2014, of May 9, General Telecommunications (in
hereinafter, LGT), included in its Title III, which indicates the following:
"Article 48. Right to the protection of personal data and privacy in relation to
with unsolicited communications, with traffic and location data and with
subscriber guides.
1. Regarding the protection of personal data and privacy in relation to
unsolicited communications end users of communications services
electronic companies will have the following rights:
(…)
b) To oppose receiving unwanted calls for commercial communication purposes
that are carried out through systems other than those established in the previous letter and to
be informed of this right. "
The offense is classified as minor in article 78.11 of the LGT, which considers as
such “The breach of public service obligations, of the obligations of
public nature and the violation of consumers and end users, as
established in Title III of the Law, its implementing regulations ”.
This infraction can be sanctioned with a fine of up to 50,000 euros, according to
with article 79.1.d) of the aforementioned LGT.
V
In the present case, it is proven that the defendant is responsible for the
treatment carried out by the person in charge indicated whenever acting on behalf of and for
account of the claimed and this decides on the purpose and means of the treatment.
It also appears that on behalf of the claimed person, the aforementioned data processor
I make a phone call to the claimant.
According to the available evidence, it is considered that it proceeds
graduate the sanction to be imposed according to the following criteria established by the
Article 80.1) and 2) of the LGT:
- The low social impact of the offense (article 80.1b) of the LGT).
- The consideration of the financial situation of the offender (article 80.2 of the
LGT).
In view of the above, the following is issued
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Considering the aforementioned precepts and others of general application, the Director of the Agency
Spanish Data Protection RESOLVES:
FIRST: IMPOSE AUDAX RENOVABLES, S.A., with CIF A62338827, for a
violation of Article 48.1.b) of the LGT, typified in Article 78.11 of the LGT
(minor offense), a fine of 12,000 euros (twelve thousand euros).
SECOND: NOTIFY this resolution to AUDAX RENOVABLES, S.A.
THIRD: Warn the sanctioned person that the sanction imposed must be effective
once this resolution is enforceable, in accordance with the provisions of the
Article 98.1.b) of Law 39/2015, of October 1, on Administrative Procedure
Common of Public Administrations, within the voluntary payment period indicated in the
Article 68 of the General Collection Regulations, approved by Royal Decree
939/2005, of July 29, in relation to art. 62 of Law 58/2003, of 17
December, by entering the restricted account number ES00 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000, opened in the name of the Spanish Agency for Data Protection in the entity
banking CAIXABANK, S.A. or otherwise, it will be collected in
executive period.
Received the notification and once executive, if the date of execution is found
Between the 1st and the 15th of each month, both inclusive, the deadline for making the payment
volunteer will be until the 20th of the following or immediately subsequent business month, and if
between the 16th and the last day of each month, both inclusive, the payment term
it will be until the 5th of the second following or immediately subsequent business month.
In accordance with the provisions of article 50 of the LOPDGDD, this
Resolution will be made public once it has been notified to the interested parties.
Against this resolution, which puts an end to administrative proceedings (article 48.6 of the
LOPDGDD), and in accordance with the provisions of articles 112 and 123 of the Law
39/2015, of October 1, of the Common Administrative Procedure of the
Public Administrations, the interested parties may file, optionally,
appeal for reconsideration before the Director of the Spanish Agency for Data Protection
within a month from the day following notification of this
resolution or directly administrative contentious appeal before the Chamber of
Contentious-administrative of the National Court, in accordance with the provisions of the
Article 25 and in section 5 of the fourth additional provision of Law 29/1998, of
July 13, regulator of the Contentious-administrative Jurisdiction, within the period of
two months from the day following the notification of this act, as
provided for in article 46.1 of the aforementioned legal text.
Finally, it is pointed out that in accordance with the provisions of art. 90.3 a) of Law 39/2015,
of October 1, of the Common Administrative Procedure of the Administrations
Public, the final resolution may be suspended provisionally through administrative channels if
the interested party expresses his intention to file a contentious-administrative appeal.
If this is the case, the interested party must formally communicate this fact through
writing addressed to the Spanish Agency for Data Protection, presenting it through
of the Electronic Registry of the Agency [https://sedeagpd.gob.es/sede-electronica-
web /], or through any of the other records provided for in art. 16.4 of the
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cited Law 39/2015, of October 1. You must also transfer to the Agency the
documentation that proves the effective filing of the contentious appeal-
administrative. If the Agency is not aware of the filing of the appeal
contentious-administrative within a period of two months from the day following the
notification of this resolution would terminate the precautionary suspension.
815-141020
Mar Spain Martí
Director of the Spanish Agency for Data Protection
C / Jorge Juan, 6 www.agpd.es
28001 - Madrid sedeagpd.gob.es
