The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will replace the existing Data Protection Act (DPA), takes effect from 25 May 2018. UK organisations that process the personal data of EU residents need to ensure systems are in place by then to enable compliance with new requirements.

The GDPR is more extensive in scope and application than the current DPA. The Regulation extends the data rights of individuals, and requires organisations to develop clear policies and procedures to protect personal data, and adopt appropriate technical and organisational measures.

The GDPR introduces a number of key changes for organisations including:

– the definition of personal data is being widened, which in turn will bring more data in the regulated perimeter
– parental consent will be required for processing personal data of children under 16
– revised rules for obtaining valid consent
– mandatory appointment of a data protection officer (DPO) for certain companies
– mandatory data protection impact assessments
– new requirements for data breach notifications
– new restrictions on international data transfers
– new requirements for data portability

The government has confirmed that the UK’s decision to leave the EU will not affect the commencement of the GDPR. Enforcing GDPR in the UK will be the responsibility of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The GDPR applies to ‘controllers’ and ‘processors’. The definitions are broadly the same as under the DPA – i.e. the controller says how and why personal data is processed and the processor acts on the controller’s behalf. Organisations that are currently subject to the DPA, are also likely to be subject to the GDPR.

Tough penalties can be imposed for non-compliance – organisations found in breach of the Regulation may be fined up to 4% of annual global turnover or 20m euros, whichever is the greater.

Further information on the GDPR, including details of the compliance requirements, can be found on the ICO website.