To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2021 to Question 169852 on Sexual Offences, who is responsible for safeguarding people who may be being exploited as a result of receiving sexually explicit emails; and what investigations have been undertaken to date by that body.
Answered on
27 October 2021
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will assess and forward information it receives through its reporting process to other organisations who may have an interest or a responsibility.
This information is shared according to the specific nature of the issue raised with the ICO and may include the Police. We would expect all agencies to share information with the relevant bodies and take appropriate action to ensure the safeguarding of individuals where there is cause for concern. If an individual receives unsolicited spam containing adult content, we would encourage them to make a report to the ICO through their website and select ‘adult content’.
Their report will be assessed and investigated where necessary. The online form is available at: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-emails/report-spam-emails/
The ICO does not publish information on its ongoing investigations or enforcement action which they have taken specifically against email spam, including those emails which are sexually explicit. Further information on their enforcement activity relating to broader marketing is available on the ICO website: https://ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken/enforcement/?facet_type=&facet_sector=Marketing&facet_date=&date_from=&date_to=