Russian Court Sides with Passenger in Landmark Email Marketing Case

A court in Ufa has ruled in favor of a passenger who sued a Russian airline for sending her unsolicited marketing emails, setting a notable precedent for consumer data privacy. The woman argued that receiving promotional material from the carrier implied her personal data had been processed without her explicit, voluntary consent, constituting an invasion of her private space.

The airline countered that she had consented to communications when booking her ticket and could unsubscribe at any time. However, the court found the carrier's defense lacking. Judges stated the airline failed to prove the passenger had given free consent for her data to be used for advertising purposes, separate from the transaction of purchasing a ticket.

The ruling orders the airline to pay the passenger 5,000 rubles in moral damages and 6,000 rubles to cover legal costs. An additional 2,500-ruble fine was levied for failing to settle the consumer's claim voluntarily. The case underscores the tightening legal standards around digital marketing and data processing in Russia, emphasizing that consent for one purpose does not automatically extend to another.