Could I pick your brains?

Question

Could somebody, somewhere EXPLAIN IN LAYMANS terms the UK Data Protection Act to me? I have tried to read it and make sense of it. But without wishing to appear thick I can't make much sense of it.

The reason I need to have it explained to me (and no I'm not blonde LOL) is; I am trying to set up a business, researching and creating databases on Company information. I plan to sell these databases.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hi Rhonda

I have been reading that all day today and trying to make sense of it. Still none the wiser... I need that document explained to me in "preschool language" LOL...
Understand what I mean?
Thanks anyway.

Answer 1

OK lollipop got your message.
Here we go briefly and to the point I hope.

Data protection in this country and most of Europe relates to personal Data e.g. Home telephone numbers and addresses, bank details, medical records etc. the sort of things you would assume that you did not want anybody to know most of all strangers.

Having said that it can also be most obscure things that is a person's details such as preferences like car types, food, sexual preferences or weather you own a cat. In fact anything that is deemed as personel Data. So don't go there.

The grey areas are things such as direct line telephone numbers at work or those that work form home and use a home address for business.

All these are no go areas unless you have the consent of that person and for the sake of your own saftey it should be in writing.
( even if it is a tick box and signature)

In the case of business data I think that all information is free to public access. You can say where they are main number or department number telephone numbers. You can say what they do how many staff they have how much money they make (not sure about sole traders on this one) if they have a sign over their shop and parking, if they have friendly atmosphere but if it is a one man shop not he is friendly or not - it becomes personel.

I have not been on a course for 3 or more years but I think it is pretty much the same. The other thing is I had to register as the Dataprotection manager for the company it is a gov' thing

There are rules as to how you store data - long and drawn out but in essence it has to be in a secure place and second copies should be in a different location. All should be fire proof and in a locked room with limited key access.

The thing is that to my knowledge and I have not done it for a while up to three years ago there were only 2 or 3 prosecutions at the most over the data protection act. I don't think anyone is too keen to take that route including the government.

DO NOT BE PUT OFF EVERY BUSINESS IS FULL OF THESE RULES AND REGS IF WE ALL STUCK BY THEM RIGIDLY NO ONE WOULD START A NEW BUSINESS.

Good luck, if I can be of more help mail me.

Answer 2

Go here:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm