GDPR - What does it mean?

[LawJaw 50]

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) is a European piece of law which will apply to UK businesses from May 2018 and if you want to avoid a fine of up to 20 million Euros or 4% of your annual global turnover, now is not too soon to make sure you have systems in place to comply. 

Regardless of Brexit, UK businesses will need to comply and to ensure they do so, the Government is preparing what is essentially a UK version of the Regulations which is due to be published in the Autumn of 2017 in the form of a new Data Protection Act. It is thought the new Act will repeal (fully replace) the current Data Protection Act which is now somewhat outdated as on-line business and technology has moved on considerably since its implementation in 1998. While it is currently unclear as to what exactly will be in the new Data Protection Act, it will cover all the requirements of the GDPR as for trade purposes, the UK needs to ensure its businesses meet at least the same standards in data protection as their future EU trading partners.  

Who advises on and enforces the GDPR?

The Information Commissioner (ICO) is the lead body on GDPR. The ICO was set up under the Data Protection Act 1998 as an independent authority to look after public information rights. They provide advice to the public and organisations on issues such as spam texts and emails, CCTV, Subject Access Requests (SARs), opting out of the open electoral register, identity theft and now also the use of drones. They are also responsible for the enforcement of all things data protection. 

They are very active in issuing fines for data breaches under both the current Data Protection Act and also the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). They don’t discriminate and fines have been issued to charities, police forces and Local Authorities as well as businesses.  

For more information read our article GDPR and avoiding a fine of up to 20 million Euros

[trade vet 704]

So what you have got to do is......get your valeter to double up as your data protection officer.You will be able to buy some creditation online.Then if you want to complain about some sub prime chucky duffer on this forum,you get the valeter to sign it off first.