Stronger rules around what companies can do with consumers’ personal data is now less than four months away.
Jersey’s new Data Protection laws come into force in 25 May, the same day as new European legislation called General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR.
Ahead of its introduction, and to coincide with this weekend’s European Data Protection Day, the Office of the Information Commissioner is urging people to become more familiar about their rights about how their data is handled when the new legislation comes into effect.
Deputy Information Commissioner, Paul Vane, said: “They extend the rights of individuals, giving them more control over what happens to their personal information. With European Data Protection Day, it’s the perfect time to highlight these new laws that will benefit consumers. As well as long-standing rights of access to, and correction of personal information in specific cases, the new laws allow for the erasure of personal information in some circumstances, and the right to data portability.”
Under the new rules, business will have to provide individuals with more information when it comes to personal data handling – including stronger rules around how businesses ensure individuals have consented to the use of such information.
GDPR, which also aims to harmonise compliance regulations for business, will be the biggest change to data protection across Europe in more than 20 years.
