CompTIA CySA+ Practice Test

What violation occurs if a company uses email addresses for marketing without obtaining explicit consent, even if permission was given for other uses?

1. No privacy violation occurred

2. There was a privacy violation since consent was not obtained for marketing

3. No privacy violation since email addresses were used securely

4. There was a violation of data minimization policies

The correct answer is: There was a privacy violation since consent was not obtained for marketing

The situation described involves the use of email addresses for marketing purposes without obtaining explicit consent specifically for that use. Under many privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU or the CAN-SPAM Act in the US, organizations must always obtain clear and distinct consent from individuals to use their personal information for specific purposes, including marketing. Even if consent was provided for other uses, the key aspect here is that consent must be explicit for each specific purpose. Using email addresses for marketing without that explicit consent represents a violation of privacy rights, as individuals have the right to control how their personal data is utilized. This captures the essence of privacy laws which require transparency and clear agreement regarding the use of personal data. Consequently, the answer indicates a clear breach of privacy due to the lack of consent specifically tied to marketing activities, regardless of any prior permissions that might have been granted for other uses.