An impending overhaul of data protection law will present "opportunities and challenges" for companies as they prepare for the changes, which are one year away today.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will hand EU citizens more control over how organisations use their personal data, and impose stringent rules on how organisations handle that data and what they can use it for.
In a discussion at TechUK's London headquarters today, Rob Luke, deputy information commissioner of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), said that organisations typically ask the UK data watchdog for granular guidance "often people will say to us: tell us what we need to do'".
He added that the ICO was "working at pace to produce detailed guidance, both at national level but also European level guidance produced by the Article 29 EU Working Party, to which we are making a major contribution".
Organisations should be proactive in gaining compliance, rather than adopt a reactive approach to their GDPR preparations, motivated solely by a mindset of compliance or risk management, the ICO contends.
"Those organisations which thrive under GDPR will be those who recognise that the key feature of GDPR is to put the individual at the heart of data protection law," says Luke.
"Thinking first about how people want their data handled and then using those principles to underpin how you go about preparing for GDPR means you won't go far wrong," he adds.
Luke believes that preparations for the forthcoming regulations boiled down to two words: "transparency" and "accountability".
"Being clear with individuals how their personal data is being used, and placing the highest standards of data protection at the heart of how you do business," Luke explains
GDPR, he believes, is a board-level issyue no matter the size of the company, not least because under GDPR the regulator "wields a bigger stick". For the most serious violations of the law, the ICO will have the power to fine companies up to 20million or 4%of a company's total annual worldwide turnover, whichever is larger.
But the cost to business of poor practice in this area goes above and beyond any fine the ICO could impose, Luke argues.
"Losing your consumers' trust could be terminal for your reputation and for your organisation," he says."A model where organisations take an approach to data protection which earns the trust of consumers in a more systematic way [is better]. And where that trust translates into competitive advantage for those who lead the charge."
Andrew Rogoyski, vice president of cyber security services at CGI UK, urges boards and CEOs to plan how their firms will achieve compliance, but doesn'tthink organisations could already be compliant with one year to go.
He warned that the regulations could "amplify potential share price movements as a result of a data breach" and therefore boards' and CEOs' attention is "crucial".
While GDPR is helpful now, he thought it would be different in a few years' time. "If you think about 2025 and automation there will be key differences in handling information and privacy."
David Erdos, a lecturer in law and the open society at Cambridge University, sees GDPR as a step up in terms of a rules-based approach. "The aim is harmonisation across Europe" but derogations from this will have an important impact," he says.
Erdos adds that he doesn't think the UK will move away from EU's fundamental values on data protection following Brexit.
Emma Butler, data protection officer at digital identity firm Yoti, says that adhering to GDPR regulations starts in the legal department but "actually it is [about] change management".
"GDPR is an opportunity to make sure you are doing information governance really well," she claims, adding that there are threats and risks coming from GDPR but these shouldn't be an organisation's sole focus.
Antony Walker, deputy CEO of TechUK, believes there are questions about whether the UK will continue to stay in step with evolving data policy discussions in Europe, adding that the ICO is "clearly very influential" but Brexit now "limits the amount of time available to consider how to implement GDPR in a UK context".
ICO outlines its GDPR guidance priorities General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) GDPR preparation: 2018 data protection changes
Picture credit: Rene Millman/IT Pro
