The UK government has recently released a statement of intent outlining the proposals of its upcoming Data Protection Bill<\/em>. The proposals, drafted by Digital Minister Matt Hancock, is set to overhaul and revolutionize the data protection laws in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The new Data Protection Bill will give us one of the most robust, yet dynamic, set of data laws in the world. It will give people more control over their data, require more consent for its use, and prepare Britain for Brexit,” said the Digital Minister in an official statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With proposals such as \u201cright to innocence\u201d and \u201cright to be forgotten,\u201d the bill will empower citizens with greater control over their personal information. The \u201cright to be forgotten\u201d will give users the authority to erase all their data from social media sites before they were 18 (those old, cringey Facebook statuses will finally be off the internet!!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Till now, the laws didn\u2019t cover modern types of data such as IP addresses, cookies, and DNA. How would they? After all, the current laws were set in motion all way back in 1998 (back when \u2018patience\u2019 was the internet\u2019s middle name!). The new laws will categorize all such information as \u2018personal data\u2019 and bring it under the radar of relevant rules and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever been sick of those cold-calls or spam emails? Of course, you\u2019ve been. Well, that’s going to stop if you reside in the UK (lucky you!). Under the new propositions, websites cannot add you to those email lists without your consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also a provision for \u2018data portability\u2019 in the statement of intent. It means that users will be able to move data between service providers. This presents customers with a greater choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If an organization in the UK suffers a serious data breach, it could be fined up to \u00a317m or 4% of global turnover \u2013 3300% more than the current penalty. However, such financial penalties will be used as a “last resort” and won\u2019t be imposed if the organizations can prove that they took all the adequate measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The recent cyber-attacks in the UK left a lot to be desired from a cybersecurity point of view and the new Data Protection Bill is a timely and positive response to those attacks. Under the bill, the organizations in the UK will have to adhere to the rules and will have to report the actions they take to a regulator. If a data breach takes place and the confidential information of individuals is at stake, the organizations must inform ICO within 72 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe want the UK to be the safest place in the world to live and be online, with our essential services and infrastructure prepared for the increased risk of cyber-attack and more resilient against other threats such as power failures and environmental hazards,\u201d said Mr. Hancock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"UK](\"https:\/\/www.sslrenewals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/uk-data-protection.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s in it for the citizens?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Power, power and more power!!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What about for the organizations?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Strict rules, more strict rules, and even more strict rules!!!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n