The Data Protection Act 2018 Assignment Sample

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Introduction

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Parliament passed the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) in 2018. With the coming into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016, the Data Protection Act 2018 superseded the Data Protection Act 1998 (Crowhurst et al., 2019). As the UK was a previous member state, the EU GDPR was directly applicable in the UK. The GDPR 2016 regulates data protection and privacy across the entire EU and EEA. With the UK leaving the EU, the GDPR was incorporated into domestic law, becoming the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) on 1st January 2021. Both GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 are applicable to the protection of personal data in the UK. Businesses must comply with both laws despite the fact that they complement one another (Russo et al., 2018).

Discussion

• Applicability of the Data Protection Act, 2018 The EU GDPR and the UK GDPR may both apply if an individual does business in or with European countries. Whether you are unsure, it is often preferable to pursue legal assistance to support you are abiding by the law appropriately (Crowhurst et al., 2019).
• Data Privacy legislation governs how organizations, enterprises, and authorities use private info. As private data is continuously kept in computer systems, it also provides 'digital rights' for individual citizens. It also governs how, where, as well as why any organization can process private information (Russo et al., 2018).
• The purpose of the Data Protection Act The fair and appropriate use of private details. It is a component of the right to confidentiality, but on a broader level, it is also about creating trust within individuals and organizations. It's really about treating people with respect and freedom, recognizing their freedom to manage their own image and dealings with one another, and achieving harmony with society's larger goals (Russo et al., 2018).
• Aim of Data Protection Act The Data Protection Act serves numerous functions, the most important of which is to safeguard people's private data from misuse, stolen, or mismanaged. The DPA accomplishes this by, initially, clearly outlining people's rights, and secondly, imposing well-defined obligations on organizations managing private data, as well as recommendations for procedures.
• Prior to the revised law in 2018, the Data Protection Act of 1998 comprised eight data protection standards. While not departing significantly from the seven principles enshrined in the DPA 1998, while acceptable at the point, it does nothing to acknowledge the greater need for data security that exists nearly two decades later (Lovell et al., 2018).
• In keeping with the holistic approach now taken, principal 7 of the Data Protection Act 2018, 'Accountability', is the most significant addition. With this key principle, organizations are directly liable for handling personal data lawfully and correctly while also being accountable for demonstrating their continued compliance (Lovell et al., 2018). 
• To begin, one of its most commonly used and basic terminology in data protection laws is 'Personal data,' which refers to 'any set of information pertaining to a particular, or potentially verifiable individual.'' Second, the term 'data subject' describes a person to whom private information is referred. The term 'data processor' relates to an individual or entity in charge of doing 'processing' (operations) on private information or data points that can be done manually or by an electronic machine (Lovell et al., 2018).
• The terms 'data controller' and 'data processor' are interchangeable (Prasad M et al., 2020). As a 'competent authority,' you define the manner and goal of the operation by itself or in collaboration with others. Despite the existence of a controller/processor dichotomy, a single body can fulfil these functions (Prasad M et al., 2020).
• Lastly, the word "data breach" is critical to determine because the consequences and ramifications can be severe. A security breach is defined as unauthorized or unintentional damage, theft, unlawful exposure, modification, or access to private information (Prasad M et al., 2020).
• The GDPR is responsible for setting out seven major principles for the processing of personal data in a legal manner. The processing of the personal data involves the organization, as well as the collection of the personal data, structuring or storage of the data. This also includes alteration or consultation or using as well as combining or restricting or erasure or destructing the personal data. 

Crime within the act of data protection of the year 2018

• The future-proofed is elaborated under section 19 of the s. 54A DPA 1998 as a provision that criminalizes the obstructions of inspection regarding ICO under the information system of Europe. The given Commission might inspect Private data as and when required for discharging the foreign obligations of the UK along with the subjections of sub-sectional restrictions. Under section 119 (6), it is mentioned that there is a consideration of crime during the (a) intentional obstructions to an individual who exercises the authority within subsections (1) or (b) failure irrespective of a reasonable cause for providing an individual with the authority of exercising power regarding the assistance that might be needed by the individual (Crowhurst et al., 2019).
• Section 59 DPA of the year 1998 was replaced by section 132 along with criminalizing the activities by current or former staff of ICO who disclose information which is obtained while performing the respective duties. It is clarified under section 132 (2) that the situations under the disclosure regarding any legitimate authority it might be capable of creating. However, section 132 (3) confirms the offence of an individual who either recklessly or intentionally discloses information regarding the contravened subsection (1) (Crowhurst et al., 2019).
• Section 144 indicates the unreliable statement, which is created to provide a response towards the notice of information. It is considered as a crime for the individual responding to the notice of information from the commissioner for creating or recklessly creating a statement regarding falsified substantial respect.
• As stated by section 148 (2) (a), it is a crime for an individual to rupture or conceal, dispose of, block or falsify a part of or complete material, equipment, document or information. Section 148 (2) (b) indicates permission or causation of a set of actions which pout in the earlier subsection (Crowhurst et al., 2019).
• The section 170 under the given act is created on the section 55 DPA of the year 1998 that criminalize either recklessly or knowingly procured, disclosed or obtained personal information without taking consent of the controller of data and the offering to sale or sale of the given data (Bailey et al.,  2018). The given provision is considered to be most usually or typically utilized for prosecuting the ones who have access to the financial or health care records irrespective of a legal it is further added by section 17 that the crime of recklessly or knowingly retaining Private data that might be obtained in an illegitimate way, without taking consent of the controller of data. All though there exist some exceptions, such as when these retaining, procuring, disclosing or obtaining was essential regarding the objective of detecting or restricting crimes. Section 170 (2) as well as (3) provide defence against section 170 (1) (Bailey et al., 2018).
• It is further mentioned under section 171 that any new crime usually criminalizes are - identified Private data into a de-identified one. Actually, de-identification is a procedure that is similar to the redactions indicating a concealing or removal of Private data. It is stated by section (5) that it is a crime for an individual who recklessly or knowingly processes the Private data or the information which is re-identified. While section 171 (3), as well as section 171 (4), set a defence towards section 171 (1), such as the re-identification, being essential regarding the objective of detecting or restricting crime. Also, section 171 (6), as well as section 171 (7), set a defence towards section 171 (5) (Bailey et al., 2018).
• Section 173 is associated with the requesting process of information from an individual for private information. Section 173 (3) leads to an offence regarding organizations in context to the individuals listed under section 173 (4) for altering, defacing, blocking, erasing, destroying and concealing data with the intention of eliminating the disclosure. It creates a crime within the act of freedom of information of the year 2000. The probable defence towards the crime under section 173 (3) is provided under section 173 (5). 
• Section 184 (1) leads to an offence regarding an individual for requiring others to give them access to suitable records that are associated with the employment or the continuing employment of any of the respective employees or an agreement for providing services towards them. Under section 184 (2), it is considered as an offence for the individual who needs others to give them access to a suitable record in case there is an involvement of the requestor in the provision of services, facilities or goods to the public or the need is a situation of offering or Providing services, facilities or goods to other individual or the third party. Section 184 provides detail regarding the probable defence towards the crimes under subsection 184 (1) as well as section 184 (2).

The Data Protection Act's Efficacy

• 1: Safeguards important data One of its advantages is that it protects sensitive details, which is a crucial advantage to the company. Several businesses put in place safeguards to prevent unauthorized users from entering their databases. For instance, it's not like all data in a corporation must be open to all staff. Individual information should be kept confidential between both the worker and the Human resource department (QC 2020). All that said, data security can assist in maintaining such information out of the hands of watchful eyes.
• 2: Keeping a step ahead of the rivals Maintaining your data secure also allows you to stay one step above potential rivals. Safeguarding your customers' details will boost investor interest, which is good for your firm (QC 2020). To keep your system safe, you must use appropriate and upgraded technologies and implement solid research rules. It will assist you in protecting your precious information from any incoming cyber threats.
• 3: Substantially lower development costs Adding protection to your systems ahead of time saves development and support time that could be spent on other duties. Apart from that, implementing security immediately may prevent you from getting unintended security breaches. Note that employing unsafe technology might cost you a lot of time and resources in the trial, so it's best if you implement safeguards right away (QC 2020).
• 4: Safeguard from cybercriminals Hackers may struggle to gain sensitive information if it is protected. Identities, residences, contact numbers, webmail, financial data, health record, and other confidential material maintained by companies may fall into this category. One can dissuade thieves from engaging in identity fraud, phishing attempts, and other sorts of fraudulent transactions by preserving vital and critical information (Crowhurst et al., 2019).
• 5: Compliance with current norms Compliance with standards is crucial to maintaining a positive industry reputation. As a result, your program must adhere to existing norms in order to be more reliable and stay updated. Data protection is essential in so many businesses, and your application ought to have strict safety mechanisms in place to maintain modern requirements (Crowhurst et al., 2019).

Conclusion

The Data protection laws are made with an objective so that the personal data of the users can be safer, and the businesses that have been using that data must respect their privacy. The individuals are required to trust that the organization has been processing the data in a responsible manner, and there must be compliance with the legislation and regulations of the law. As individuals, their personal data get processed by different businesses and therefore, one could expect these businesses they handle their data in a safer and legal manner. If the business processes their personal data, they must treat it how an individual or user would like to expect how it should be treated. This is a moral obligation rather than a legal obligation. This is easy for the business; they might slip the data protection laws and might create harm to the personal data of the users (Bailey et al., 2018).