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class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed gem-c-contents-list__list-item--active" aria-current="true"> The Data Protection Act </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 2" data-track-label="/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Find out what data an organisation has about you"}" href="/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you">Find out what data an organisation has about you</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 3" data-track-label="/data-protection/make-a-complaint" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Make a complaint"}" href="/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/make-a-complaint">Make a complaint</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </aside> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="guide-contents"> <h1 class="part-title"> The Data Protection Act </h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>The <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted">Data Protection Act 2018</a> controls how your personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government.</p> <div role="note" aria-label="Information" class="application-notice info-notice"> <p>The Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).</p> </div> <p>Everyone responsible for using personal data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. They must make sure the information is:</p> <ul> <li>used fairly, lawfully and transparently</li> <li>used for specified, explicit purposes</li> <li>used in a way that is adequate, relevant and limited to only what is necessary</li> <li>accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date</li> <li>kept for no longer than is necessary</li> <li>handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction or damage</li> </ul> <p>There is stronger legal protection for more sensitive information, such as:</p> <ul> <li>race</li> <li>ethnic background</li> <li>political opinions</li> <li>religious beliefs</li> <li>trade union membership</li> <li>genetics</li> <li>biometrics (where used for identification)</li> <li>health</li> <li>sex life or orientation</li> </ul> <p>There are separate safeguards for personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.</p> <h2 id="your-rights">Your rights</h2> <p>Under the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the right to find out what information the government and other organisations store about you. These include the right to:</p> <ul> <li>be informed about how your data is being used</li> <li>access personal data</li> <li>have incorrect data updated</li> <li>have data erased</li> <li>stop or restrict the processing of your data</li> <li>data portability (allowing you to get and reuse your data for different services)</li> <li>object to how your data is processed in certain circumstances</li> </ul> <p>You also have rights when an organisation is using your personal data for:</p> <ul> <li>automated decision-making processes (without human involvement)</li> <li>profiling, for example to predict your behaviour or interests</li> </ul> </div> <nav class="govuk-pagination govuk-pagination--block" role="navigation" aria-label="Pagination"> <div class="govuk-pagination__next"> <a class="govuk-link govuk-pagination__link" href="/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you" rel="next" data-track-category="contentsClicked" 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protection", "datePublished": "2011-11-15T10:53:08.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2015-09-16T11:47:14.000+00:00", "text": "The Data Protection Act (DPA) controls how personal information can be used and your rights to ask for information about yourself", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-13093f053c15f613acd827aff27cac83d3fab452947cbcae4c7b706dadf2f7f2.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-4233cd42671827e266e284c4d5ae68fb600bd9f9e35dda663ccabbc2b6ab7ec3.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Government Digital Service", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "about": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-law/rights" } ], "headLine": "Data protection", "description": "The Data Protection Act (DPA) controls how personal information can be used and your rights to ask for information about yourself", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted\"\u003eData Protection Act 2018\u003c/a\u003e controls how your personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEveryone responsible for using personal data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. They must make sure the information is:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eused fairly, lawfully and transparently\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eused for specified, explicit purposes\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eused in a way that is adequate, relevant and limited to only what is necessary\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eaccurate and, where necessary, kept up to date\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ekept for no longer than is necessary\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehandled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction or damage\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is stronger legal protection for more sensitive information, such as:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003erace\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eethnic background\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epolitical opinions\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ereligious beliefs\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etrade union membership\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003egenetics\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ebiometrics (where used for identification)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehealth\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003esex life or orientation\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere are separate safeguards for personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"your-rights\"\u003eYour rights\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnder the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the right to find out what information the government and other organisations store about you. These include the right to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ebe informed about how your data is being used\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eaccess personal data\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehave incorrect data updated\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehave data erased\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003estop or restrict the processing of your data\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003edata portability (allowing you to get and reuse your data for different services)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eobject to how your data is processed in certain circumstances\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou also have rights when an organisation is using your personal data for:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eautomated decision-making processes (without human involvement)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eprofiling, for example to predict your behaviour or interests\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Crime, justice and the law", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Your rights and legal support", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice/your-rights-legal-support" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "headline": "Data protection", "description": "The Data Protection Act (DPA) controls how personal information can be used and your rights to ask for information about yourself", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "The Data Protection Act", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection", "text": "<p>The <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted\">Data Protection Act 2018</a> controls how your personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>The Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).</p>\n</div>\n\n<p>Everyone responsible for using personal data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. They must make sure the information is:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>used fairly, lawfully and transparently</li>\n <li>used for specified, explicit purposes</li>\n <li>used in a way that is adequate, relevant and limited to only what is necessary</li>\n <li>accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date</li>\n <li>kept for no longer than is necessary</li>\n <li>handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction or damage</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>There is stronger legal protection for more sensitive information, such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>race</li>\n <li>ethnic background</li>\n <li>political opinions</li>\n <li>religious beliefs</li>\n <li>trade union membership</li>\n <li>genetics</li>\n <li>biometrics (where used for identification)</li>\n <li>health</li>\n <li>sex life or orientation</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>There are separate safeguards for personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"your-rights\">Your rights</h2>\n\n<p>Under the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the right to find out what information the government and other organisations store about you. These include the right to:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>be informed about how your data is being used</li>\n <li>access personal data</li>\n <li>have incorrect data updated</li>\n <li>have data erased</li>\n <li>stop or restrict the processing of your data</li>\n <li>data portability (allowing you to get and reuse your data for different services)</li>\n <li>object to how your data is processed in certain circumstances</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You also have rights when an organisation is using your personal data for:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>automated decision-making processes (without human involvement)</li>\n <li>profiling, for example to predict your behaviour or interests</li>\n</ul>\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Find out what data an organisation has about you", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you", "text": "<p>Write to an organisation to ask for a copy of the information they hold about you.</p>\n\n<p>If it’s a public organisation, write to their Data Protection Officer (<abbr title=\"Data protection officer\">DPO</abbr>). Their details should be on the organisation’s privacy notice.</p>\n\n<p>If the organisation has no <abbr title=\"Data protection officer\">DPO</abbr>, or you do not know who to write to, address your letter to the company secretary.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-long-it-should-take\">How long it should take</h2>\n\n<p>The organisation must give you a copy of the data they hold about you as soon as possible, and within 1 month at most.</p>\n\n<p>In certain circumstances, for example particularly complex or multiple requests, the organisation can take a further 2 months to provide data. In this case, they must tell you:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>within 1 month of your request</li>\n <li>why there’s a delay</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"when-information-can-be-withheld\">When information can be withheld</h2>\n\n<p>There are some situations when organisations are allowed to withhold information, for example if the information is about:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>the prevention, detection or investigation of a crime</li>\n <li>national security or the armed forces</li>\n <li>the assessment or collection of tax</li>\n <li>judicial or ministerial appointments</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>An organisation does not have to say why they’re withholding information.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-much-it-costs\">How much it costs</h2>\n\n<p>Requests for information are usually free. However, organisations can charge an administrative cost in some circumstances, for example if:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>you’re asking for a large amount of information</li>\n <li>your request will take a lot of time and effort to process</li>\n</ul>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Make a complaint", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/make-a-complaint", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306031723/https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/make-a-complaint", "text": "<p>If you think your data has been misused or that the organisation holding it has not kept it secure, you should contact them and tell them.</p>\n\n<p>If you’re unhappy with their response, you can <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/data-protection-complaints/\">make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (<abbr title=\"Information Commissioner's Office\">ICO</abbr>)</a> or get advice from the <abbr title=\"Information Commissioner's Office\">ICO</abbr>.</p>\n\n<div class=\"contact\">\n<p>ICO<br>\nTelephone: 0303 123 1113<br>\nTextphone: 01625 545860<br>\nMonday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm<br>\n<a href=\"/call-charges\">Find out about call charges</a></p>\n</div>\n\n<div class=\"address\"><div class=\"adr org fn\"><p>\n\nInformation Commissioner’s Office\n<br>Wycliffe House Water Lane\n<br>Wilmslow\n<br>Cheshire\n<br>SK9 5AF\n<br>\n</p></div></div>\n\n<p>You can also <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/contact-us-public/public-advice/\">chat online with an advisor</a>.</p>\n\n<p>The <abbr title=\"Information Commissioner's Office\">ICO</abbr> can investigate your claim and take action against anyone who’s misused personal data.</p>\n\n<p>You can also visit their website for information on <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint\">how to make a data protection complaint</a>.</p>\n\n" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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