Reform of the UK’s data protection regime is being planned, according to Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden.
The UK Government is pledging to overhaul existing rules, including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to “allow information to flow more freely and drive growth in the digital economy” now that the UK has left the EU.
Mr Dowden stated the changes would not aim to “water down” data protection, but to improve opportunities for growth.
He also committed to Britain moving faster than the EU in striking data-sharing and data adequacy agreements with non-EU countries.
The GDPR came into force in 2018 and following Brexit, was mirrored into UK law. The UK now has a draft ‘adequacy’ agreement with Brussels on data standards, but is not obliged to “copy and paste the EU’s rulebook”, said Dowden.
Dowden said he would not “move precipitately” and would draft proposals after consultation with industry.
The current information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, is due to leave her post in October.
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Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
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