{"id":179606,"date":"2023-02-17T00:26:06","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T00:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=179606"},"modified":"2026-03-30T03:53:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T02:53:45","slug":"personal-mobile-phones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/personal-mobile-phones\/","title":{"rendered":"Can My UK Business Ask Staff to Use Their Personal Mobile Phones to Call Clients?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As a UK business owner, you know that data protection compliance matters. Every UK company owner knows the <a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/\">Information Commissioner&#8217;s Office<\/a> (ICO) can fine UK organisations up to \u00a317.5m. However, some business owners overlook that asking staff to use personal mobile phones to make business-related calls can be a data protection offence. This article will explore the potential disadvantages of asking staff to use their personal mobile phones, to help your business avoid falling foul of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and facing a potential ICO fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the GDPR?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/telephone-conversations-business-gdpr-ico-data-protection\/\">General Data Protection Regulation<\/a> (UK GDPR) is a critical law providing data protection rules for UK businesses. The GDPR focuses on the use and handling of \u2018personal data\u2019. Personal information includes all data which you can use to identify an individual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>This definition is extensive and can include the following:<!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>date of birth;<\/li>\n<li>full name;<\/li>\n<li>home address;<\/li>\n<li>car registration number;<\/li>\n<li>credit and debit card details;<\/li>\n<li>health information;<\/li>\n<li>email address; and<\/li>\n<li>mobile phone number.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to note that personal phone numbers and email addresses constitute personal information, meaning you must handle them according to GDPR rules.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any business that forces staff to disclose their personal information to third parties and consumers without exceptional reasoning is likely to have breached the GDPR. For example, the ICO has not typically taken kindly to UK companies asking employees to make business calls on their own mobile phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does the GDPR Ban Personal Phones for Business?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The short answer to this question is \u2018it depends\u2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the GDPR does not provide an outright ban on using personal mobile phones for business purposes, it does set limits on their use. The aim of limiting personal mobile use is to achieve two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>avoiding employees\u2019 personal data getting into the hands of third parties; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ensuring customer data and third-party information cannot be stored and saved by staff outside your computer system.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us explore scenarios where your business should and should not ask employees to <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/staff-personal-mobile-phones-work\/\">use personal mobile devices<\/a> below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need 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For this reason, many businesses ask their staff to block their number when calling individuals for business purposes. Individuals can do this within the settings of most smartphones or, where this is not possible, by calling through a specific number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, businesses know that many individuals do not answer calls from \u2018unknown\u2019 or \u2018withheld\u2019 numbers, so this is not always feasible. In such cases, companies can ask their staff to use an app that provides an alternative telephone number. These systems usually work by having the individual log in to another phone through their personal handset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Should I Avoid Asking Staff to Use Their Mobiles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary rule is to ask staff to call an individual after first protecting their personal mobile number. Asking an employee to call through their own mobile phone number risks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the third party providing their phone number to others without their consent;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>that staff member being harassed or stalked through their phone number; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the third party using malicious code within messages to <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/six-cyber-security-tips\/\">plant a virus or GPS location data tracking bug<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst these risks can exist with company mobile phones, they occur to a lesser extent as most company phones are turned off at the end of the business day. Additionally, you can easily change company mobile numbers. In contrast, individuals usually try to keep the same mobile phone number permanently due to the inconvenience of changing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--idea\">\n    <p>In this way, any business that wants staff to use personal devices for work purposes should provide a suitable app or cloud-based log-in system to mask and protect their device.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p><strong>Key Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>\u00a317.5 Million:<\/strong> The maximum fine the ICO can impose on UK organisations for serious GDPR breaches, with over 160 fines issued to businesses between 2021 and 2024 for data protection failures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>83%:<\/strong> Of UK data breaches involve human error, including improper use of personal devices for business purposes, highlighting the significant compliance risk of unmanaged mobile phone policies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>3 in 5:<\/strong> UK employees regularly use personal devices for work-related tasks, yet fewer than half of their employers have a formal Mobile Device policy in place to manage associated data protection risks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Information Commissioner&#8217;s Office (ICO), <em>Annual Report and Financial Statements<\/em>, 2023\u201324<\/li>\n<li>UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey, <em>Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)<\/em>, 2024<\/li>\n<li>Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), <em>Workplace Technology and Data Compliance Report<\/em>, 2023<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ensuring staff use their personal mobile phones in limited circumstances is a good way of achieving GDPR compliance. Some business owners set limits on using staff mobiles by asking a lawyer to draft a suitable Mobile Devices policy. However, the primary GDPR rule is to ensure that personal information belonging to your staff or customers is kept safe and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need help ensuring the safe use of personal mobile phones in the workplace, LegalVision provides ongoing legal support for businesses through our fixed-fee legal membership. Our experienced <strong>[insert <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/it-lawyers-lp\/\">data, privacy and IT lawyers<\/a> help businesses manage contracts, employment law, disputes, intellectual property, and more, with unlimited access to specialist lawyers for a fixed monthly fee. To learn more about LegalVision\u2019s legal membership, call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/membership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">visit our membership page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1676593146581\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a Mobile Devices policy mandatory?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, they are not mandatory, but they can help avoid confusion. For example, if an individual is unsure whether to use their mobile phone for a work task, they can check the policy.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1676593155730\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Why is the use of personal mobile devices becoming more of an issue?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Because, compared to twenty years ago, individuals tend to own multiple internet-enabled devices.\u00a0Where an individual might have been lucky to own a mobile phone, most people now own smartphones, smartwatches, tablets and laptops.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1774839051859\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the main risks of asking staff to use personal mobile phones for business calls?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Asking staff to call through their personal numbers risks exposing their private information to third parties, potential harassment or stalking, and malicious code attacks. These risks are greater with personal phones than company devices, which employees can easily change or switch off after hours.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1774839063581\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can my business stay GDPR compliant when staff need to make business calls?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can ask staff to block their personal number when making business calls or use an app that provides an alternative telephone number. This protects employees&#8217; personal data from third parties accessing it without their consent, reducing your risk of an ICO fine.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n<div class=\"not-prose m-feedback-prompt\">\n    <!-- Thumbs up\/down bar -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__main\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__title\">Was this article helpful?<\/div>\n        <div>\n            <!--span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button--text\">Thanks!<\/span-->\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--yes\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:yes\" aria-label=\"Agree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-up fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--no\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:no\" aria-label=\"Disagree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-down fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Feedback form -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--thanks \">\n            <div>Thanks!<\/div>\n            <p>\n                We appreciate your feedback \u2013 your submission has been successfully received.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form id=\"contact-form\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--form\" action=\"\" method=\"post\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"authenticity_token\" name=\"authenticity_token\" value=\"9eb4f72322\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179606\" \/>            <input value=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/personal-mobile-phones\/\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenturl\"\n                   id=\"currenturl\">\n            <input value=\"Can My UK Business Ask Staff to Use Their Personal Mobile Phones to Call Clients?\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenttitle\"\n                   id=\"currenttitle\">\n            <label>\n                <!-- display on thumbs-up -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--yes\">\n                    Can you tell us <span class=\"font-semibold\">why<\/span> you found it helpful?\n                <\/span>\n\n                <!-- display on thumbs-down -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--no text-lg\">\n                    How can we better improve this article?\n                <\/span>\n                <textarea name=\"feedbackmessage\" id=\"feedbackmessage\" required><\/textarea>\n            <\/label>\n\n            <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--error\" id=\"form-submit-error\"><\/div>\n            <button id=\"submit-contact-form-button\" type=\"submit\" name=\"commit\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--submit\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:submit\">\n                Submit            <\/button>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a UK business owner, you know that data protection compliance matters. Every UK company owner knows the Information Commissioner&#8217;s Office (ICO) can fine UK organisations up to \u00a317.5m. However, some business owners overlook that asking staff to use personal mobile phones to make business-related calls can be a data protection offence. This article will<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/personal-mobile-phones\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;Can My UK Business Ask Staff to Use Their Personal Mobile Phones to Call Clients?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13458,"featured_media":3244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"172762,2790,178513,179400,175102,2534","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[20,21,365,366,642],"class_list":["post-179606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-privacy-it","tag-small-business","tag-medium-business","tag-gdpr","tag-data-privacy","tag-gdpr-complicance"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This 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innovation","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/6bfeae4983ff2a2a487f1925d659dd03","name":"Malaikah Khattak","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/04\/Malaikah-2534-scaled-e1714435302352-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/04\/Malaikah-2534-scaled-e1714435302352-96x96.jpg","caption":"Malaikah Khattak"},"description":"Malaikah is a Solicitor at LegalVision within the Corporate and Commercial team. She assists on a broad range of Commercial Contract matters, as well as Corporate matters.","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/author\/malaikahkhattak\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/personal-mobile-phones\/#faq-question-1676593146581","name":"Is a Mobile Devices policy mandatory?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No, they are not mandatory, but they can help avoid confusion. For example, if an individual is unsure whether to use their mobile phone for a work task, they can check the policy.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/personal-mobile-phones\/#faq-question-1676593155730","name":"Why is the use of personal mobile devices becoming more of an issue?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Because, compared to twenty years ago, individuals tend to own multiple internet-enabled devices.\u00a0Where an individual might have been lucky to own a mobile phone, most people now own smartphones, smartwatches, tablets and laptops.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/personal-mobile-phones\/#faq-question-1774839051859","name":"What are the main risks of asking staff to use personal mobile phones for business calls?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Asking staff to call through their personal numbers risks exposing their private information to third parties, potential harassment or stalking, and malicious code attacks. These risks are greater with personal phones than company devices, which employees can easily change or switch off after hours.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/data-privacy-it\/personal-mobile-phones\/#faq-question-1774839063581","name":"How can my business stay GDPR compliant when staff need to make business calls?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"You can ask staff to block their personal number when making business calls or use an app that provides an alternative telephone number. This protects employees' personal data from third parties accessing it without their consent, reducing your risk of an ICO fine.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179606"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":196639,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179606\/revisions\/196639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/3244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}