Finland Times

 

File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The office of the Ombudsman for Data Protection intends to clarify S-Group's data collection of its customers.

 

S-Group said on Wednesday that it will begin in September to collect detailed information about its customers based on individual purchases. The data will be gathered through the use of the S-card. Only hotels and restaurants that accept S-card will be exempt from the data collection.

 

According to Data Protection Ombudsman Reijo Aarnio, such a one-sided modification of the loyalty agreement rings a few bells.

 

"This is a classic situation where one side can unilaterally change the agreement, whether or not the customer accepts it. The fact that the whole loyalty agreement is being changed seems strange or contrary to consent," Aarnio said.

 

S Etukortti S-Market shop and around Helsinki, 28 July 2016. The S Group said it will start to collect more accurate information about customers on the basis of individual purchases. The figure is the image processing is removed from the card identification data. Photo – Lehtikuva.

Aarnio said the matter will mostly likely be clarified next week in cooperation with consumer protection authorities. Competition and Consumer Protection Agency deputy director Katri Väänänen confirms the clarification.

 

The agency wants to know whether the customer loyalty contract has changed, and how the procedure will be carried out in relation to customers.

 

"We also want to get an overall picture of what kind of data is being collected and what it will be used for in the future," said Väänänen.