The basis on which the UK will leave the EU has still to be decided but the Government has made clear that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be absorbed into UK law at the point of exit, so there will be no substantive change to the rules that most organisations need to follow.
But organisations that rely on the transfers of personal data between the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA) may be affected.
Personal information has been able to flow freely between organisations in the UK and European Union without any specific measures. That’s because we have had a common set of rules – the GDPR.
But this two-way free flow of personal information will no longer be the case if the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement that specifically provides for the continued flow of personal data.
In this event, the Government has already made clear its intention to permit data to flow from the UK to EEA countries. But transfers of personal information from the EEA to the UK will be affected.
ICO guidance
The ICO have published guidance and practical tools to help organisations understand the implications and to help you plan ahead. These comprise:
- a ‘Six Steps to Take’ guide;
- broader guidance on the effects of leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement, and
- a general overview in the form of Frequently Asked Questions.
Many organisations have already been making preparations in case the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place. This includes those that are involved in transfers of personal data to and from the EEA.
Standard Contractual Clauses
Many may decide that one potential solution is to put in place what are known as Standard Contractual Clauses between themselves and organisations outside the UK.
The ICO’s straightforward, interactive guide can help you with that process. Particularly aimed at small and medium sized organisations, it will help you decide if Standard Contractual Clauses are relevant and will minimise the expense of putting them in place.
Transfers on the basis of a European Commission adequacy decision
The Government has also made clear its intention to seek adequacy decisions for the UK. An adequacy agreement would recognise the UK’s data protection regime as essentially equivalent to those in the EU. It would allow data flows from the EEA and avoid the need for organisations to adopt any specific measures.
But any such adequacy decisions will not be in place before the UK leaves the EU (and will take time to conclude). However, organisations need to consider their circumstances and what transfer mechanisms are appropriate.
