Data Protection Laws : Introduction

The DPA ( Data Protection Act 1998 ) 1998 was based on the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive, and it established fundamental principles for data processing. These principles ensured that personal data was processed fairly and lawfully, stored securely, and used only for the purposes explicitly stated when it was collected. Key features of the DPA 1998 included:

• Data Protection Principles: Clear guidelines on how personal data should be handled.
• Rights of Individuals: Rights for individuals regarding their personal data, including the right to access data held about them.
• Registration of Data Controllers: Requirement for organizations that process personal data to register with the Data Protection Authority.

Progression and Updates

The landscape of data protection evolved significantly since the enactment of the DPA 1998, leading to several updates and the eventual replacement of the Act:

1. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Implemented in May 2018, the GDPR brought substantial changes to data protection laws in Europe, imposing stricter rules on data processing and enhancing the rights of individuals. It necessitated changes in UK law to ensure compatibility and compliance.

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3. Data Protection Act 2018: This Act replaced the DPA 1998 and was designed to align UK...