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12.11.2021

United Kingdom – Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport – Data: A New Direction

UK – Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport – Data: A New Direction

In September, the UK government launched a series of proposals to reform the current data protection regulations into a more ambitious, growth-enhancing and innovation-friendly legislative framework. The proposals build on key elements of the current UK GDPR legislation, such as data processing principles, citizens' data processing rights and monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. With these legislative change proposals, the government aims, among other things, to stimulate economic growth, ensure that the United Kingdom (UK) can keep pace with innovation and data-intensive technologies, and ensure the responsible use of data by innovative companies.

What: Legislative proposal

Impact score: 2

For who: Policy makers, companies and citizens

Link

Key takeaways for Flanders:

The text contains a series of proposals for reforming the UK data protection authority ICO, which has sparked a debate in the UK about the role of the ICO. One of the proposals is that the functions of the Biometrics Commissioner (who reviews the use of DNA samples and fingerprints) and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner (who controls the deployment of cameras by public bodies) would be integrated into the ICO.

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner has published a response to the UK government's consulatation paper, stating that this role is highly specialised and in the public interest, and consequently should not be integrated into the ICO, which would not be able to give adequate attention to biometrics and surveillance cameras.

Such a consideration of splitting data protection and control of the use of biometrics and cameras could also be an interesting train of thought for Flanders.

Summary

For a full summary on this topic, please consult the Dutch version of this web page. 

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