Tag: GDPR

Two thirds of UK SME leaders seek data privacy reform to address GDPR shortcomings

Stuart Mitchell

Two thirds of SMEs (66%) are supportive of the UK Government introducing updated and modernised data privacy regulation to address inherent challenges of GDPR, according to a new study by the UK’s marketing trade body, the Data & Marketing Association (DMA UK). The DMA’s new report: ‘Data Horizons: How UK SMEs and Consumers View the Future of Privacy Regulation’, reveals there is strong demand among SME business owners for revised regulation that is fit for purpose, putting the customer at the heart of data privacy provisions as the digital economy…

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New UK certification schemes will “raise the bar” of data protection in children’s privacy, age assurance and asset disposal

Stuart Mitchell

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has approved the first UK GDPR certification scheme criteria. Certification was brought in under the UK GDPR as a way to help organisations demonstrate compliance with data protection rules and, in turn inspire trust and confidence in the people who use their products, processes and services. Certification works by providing a framework for organisations to follow, which offers clients and customers assurance that they are adhering to strong standards. Organisations with expertise in a particular area can develop scheme criteria. The ICO has approved the…

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85% of SMEs understand GDPR but legal requirements are still not being met, new survey reveals

Stuart Mitchell

A new survey has revealed that 85 percent of the small- to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK are familiar with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but more than half are still not cleaning their data and therefore not adhering to the GDPR’s legal requirements.  The survey of 1,110 SMEs, conducted in June by marketing data and insight company REaD Group, also found that only 40 percent hold their customer and prospect data in a CRM or other database: a surprisingly low figure given that businesses need to maintain contact with their…

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ICO announce intention to fine Marriott International more than £99 million

Stuart Mitchell

Following an extensive investigation the ICO has issued a notice of its intention to fine Marriott International £99,200,396 for infringements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The proposed fine relates to a cyber incident which was notified to the ICO by Marriott in November 2018. A variety of personal data contained in approximately 339 million guest records globally were exposed by the incident, of which around 30 million related to residents of 31 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). Seven million related to UK residents. It is believed…

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Worldwide Wikipedia edit-a-thon writes unsung women heroes into history

Stuart Mitchell

Less than 20% of Wikipedia biographies feature women Hundreds of online activists from more than 20 countries will edit and fill the “glaring gap” of women human rights defenders on the global encyclopaedia People across the world took to the internet on the 19 and 20 May to write women human rights defenders into history as part of Amnesty International’s first worldwide Wikipedia edit-a-thon. BRAVE:Edit, in collaboration with Wikimedia (Wikipedia’s non-profit organisation), will see hundreds of activists from more than 20 countries take to the global encyclopaedia to upload biographies…

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