Right to object to data being used in online direct marketing

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That this House welcomes the outcome of Tanya O’Carroll’s legal challenge against Meta, which secured a commitment from the company to stop using her personal data for direct marketing, based on her legal right to object under the UK General Data Protection Regulation; notes that this right gives individuals the power to refuse tracking and profiling for targeted ads online, and that such objections must be respected in full, without conditions; recognises the growing public awareness of this right, with thousands of individuals now taking steps to object to tracking by major tech platforms; stresses the importance of ensuring that these rights are not undermined by delay, inaction, or business models that force users into so-called consenting or paying to protect their privacy; further notes that traditional media organisations and smaller platforms are required to comply with data protection rules, and calls for a level playing field to ensure Big Tech is held to the same legal standards; and urges the Government to fully support the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure strong, proactive enforcement of data protection law and to support individuals in exercising their legal rights online.