Data Protection Act 2018

The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) is a UK law that governs how personal information is collected, used, stored, and shared. It works alongside the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and ensures that individuals have greater control over their personal data while holding organisations accountable for how they handle it.

The Data Protection Act 2018 is based on key principles that ensure personal data is handled responsibly. Organisations must process data lawfully, fairly, and transparently, collect it only for specific purposes, and limit it to what is necessary. They are also required to keep information accurate, store it only for as long as needed, and protect it from unauthorised access or loss. The Act also gives individuals important rights, including the ability to access their data, correct mistakes, request deletion in certain cases, and control how their information is used. At the same time, organisations have clear responsibilities, such as keeping data secure, having a valid reason for using it, reporting serious data breaches, and in some cases appointing a data protection officer to oversee compliance.