I agree with some of the points made in the data sharing report from the Wellcome Trust and the Information Commissioner's Office, including heavy fines for businesses that break privacy laws, and companies sharing data being required to openly publicise what the data will be used for (Government urged to review data sharing rules, 11 July).

However, the heavy criticism of the industry as a whole is unfair. First, let's not forget there is an opt-out on the Electoral Roll, and there are databases that consumers can register with to be excluded from receiving direct mail and telemarketing calls.

Information Commissioner Richard Thomas should acknowledge that the vast majority of firms in the direct marketing (DM) industry adhere and comply with the law and consumer privacy policies.

It is shortsighted and unfair to lump together issues of security of sensitive data with that of legitimate marketing information. Much DM data is opted-in by the consumer in the full knowledge that it will be used for marketing purposes. Is the government going to override their right to make up their own minds?

Richard Webster