Data sharing takes centre stage in government’s plans

The government is drafting the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill, as announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July. The ambition of the Bill is to “harness the power of data for economic growth”. This includes setting up Smart Data schemes and expanding digital verification services to new areas such as moving house and buying age-restricted goods. Many aspects are likely to remain from the previous DPDI Bill. Read an analysis of the government’s plans for digital strategy.

This issue includes some great management advice for the busy DPO. While we do not yet know the details of the new law, the basics are likely to remain the same but with a twist. Whatever the new requirements may be, it is the DPO’s job to communicate the organisation’s data processing policy and procedures to the rest of the staff, a job that may sometimes seem like an uphill struggle. There are ways of making data protection sound like an enabler, however.

The GDPR allows data subjects some control over their personal data, but the question of data ownership is not necessarily clear cut if the data also falls under Intellectual Property law. There are also intellectual property and data protection implications of training generative AI.

AI issues already land on many DPOs’ desks – for example, it is of vital importance to ensure that AI vendors comply with transparency and explainability obligations. Due diligence, and detailed contract negotiations are needed when deploying AI solutions.

You can also read about an apprenticeship scheme on Data Protection and Information Governance that has been in operation since March 2022. This programme is a great opportunity, for example for recent graduates, and provides organisations with a skilled workforce.

Laura Linkomies
Editor, Privacy Laws & Business

September 2024