Commissioner for personal data protection investigates election SMS messages

On election day, numerous citizens reported receiving unsolicited campaign messages via SMS, Viber, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Personal Data Protection Commissioner Maria Christofidou stated that her office is investigating whether these messages were sent to individuals without their prior consent, which would constitute a data privacy violation. While some media outlets reported that these messages violate the 48-hour electoral silence period, Commissioner Christofidou clarified that the legal status of these specific digital messages remains under scrutiny. The Commissioner herself confirmed receiving such a message, and her office has called on citizens to file formal complaints via their website. Additionally, her staff is conducting on-site checks at polling stations to ensure compliance with privacy instructions, including the policy that voter lists should only contain names and electoral book numbers. So far, the authorities have noted general compliance with polling station regulations. A comprehensive report on the scale of these message violations is expected following the conclusion of the election. The investigation will determine if the campaigns obtained voter data legally through updated electoral rolls.