Just as we reported in a recent blog about the 154% increase in complaints to the Irish Data Protection Commission, there has been a similar but slightly larger increase of 160 per cent in complaints received by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO received 6,281 complaints between 25 May and 3 July 2018, a 160% rise compared to the same period in 2017.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies can be fined €20 million or 4 per cent of their worldwide turnover.
Greater media attention and government advertising have boosted public awareness of their data rights and there is now a more media focus on the accountability of organisations in this area.
Accountants need to pay attention as the figures show that firms holding sensitive personal information, including financial services, education and health were the most complained about, accounting for more than a quarter of the total. The regulations have also made it easier for people to access data that organisations hold about them, leading to an increased volume of requests known as ‘data subject’ or ‘data access’ requests.
This is the first indication of the impact of the new GDPR regulation which introduced mandatory reporting of data breaches in certain cases.
To hear more about the ongoing requirements of the GDPR, come to our next CPD course, GDPR for Accountants on Tuesday 25 September 2018 in the Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, Dublin, at 9:30am until 12.30pm.
All delegates will receive a GDPR ‘Get Started Checklist’, the GDPR law itself, along with other support materials. More information and booking details: here
