EE fined for sending customers marketing texts without consent

The BT-owned firm apologised to the customers who received one of the 2.5 million messages sent.

EE has been fined £100,000 by the data watchdog for sending millions of direct marketing messages to customers without consent (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

By Jamie Harris, Press Association Science Technology Reporter

Mobile network operator EE has been fined £100,000 by the UK’s data watchdog for sending millions of direct marketing messages to its customers without consent.

An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that the BT-owned company sent more than 2.5 million text messages in early 2018, encouraging customers to download its My EE app and to upgrade their phone, as well as a follow-up text to those who did not react to the first one.