Can president share emails?

Q.- 
The president of our community has set up a system of communication where he sends out emails collectively to all owners, often asking opinions, but any replies are sent only to his own mailbox. Even if the owners click “reply to all owners”.  We ask if this is legal? We have verified that this system is being used by our current president.

(by email) 

A.- Spain’s law of data protection prohibits the publication of private information without permission. So the distribution to all community members of the emails of all the other members certainly amounts to “distribution. Perhaps some community members prefer that their private comments and opinions are not publicly shared out.

So, yes, the system is not only legal but required by law. It seems that your president is simply obeying the law and not trying to keep secrets. If all the emails were sent out and one member complained to the authorities, the president could face serious charges if he did not comply with the data protection law.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090