The UK Data Protection Act Explained

Th e U K D at a Prot ect ion Act

EXPLAINED

The UK Data Protection Act Explained The Data Protection Act is an Act of Parliament in the UK which was originally passed in 1988.

This Act is designed to protect personal data collected from consumers by businesses, laying out laws as to how this data must be stored and who it can be shared with. It was replaced by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in May 2018.

Protecting Information and Data in All Forms All forms of information or data about a living person, whether stored digitally or on paper, were protected under the Data Protection Act. Organizations that did not have sufficient measures in place to protect consumer data could be prosecuted and fined up to £500,000 for a breach. Severe breaches could even invoke a prison sentence for those responsible for causing the breach.

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The more sensitive the information, the stronger the protection surrounding it. Sensitive data such as ethnic background, religious beliefs, sexual history and political opinions were all protected under the DPA.

Guidance and Best Practice As well as legal responsibilities, the Data Protection Act provided guidance and best practice for organizations, detailing how to store and use any personal data collected. The more sensitive the information, the stronger the protection surrounding it. Sensitive data such as ethnic background, religious beliefs, sexual history and political opinions were all protected under the DPA.

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You can learn more about ransomware and data protection By visiting the Adsterra Malware Protection blog.