Digital age refreshes now-in-force data laws

Freelancers and other business owners are being reminded that they now have an enhanced version of what two of their colleagues went to court about -- a right to be forgotton.

In an update, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) says that since Friday, May 25th, 2018, people have the right for their personal data held by companies to be ereased when they turn 18.

This represents just one of the "wider range of circumstances" that people now have, in which they can request to 'data-controllers' that their personal information is deleted, the department says.

But the updated Data Protection Act goes further. Under it, people can now move their personal data between service providers, such as WhatsApp and Facebook, to rival social media platforms.

Individuals can also -- for the first time and for free -- demand that such organisations disclose all the personal data that they hold on them.

This is part of the act ensuring that people can get more information about how organisations will use and share their data, aside to it letting people more easily withdraw consent for their data to be used in the first place.

Such 'consent' is one of six legal bases that organisations as 'data controllers' must have for their processing activities, with the others being contractual necessity; vital interest, legal obligation; public interest and legitimate interest.

For individuals, ten new rights introduced on May 25th -- when the General Data Protection Regulation came into force into the UK -- have been outlined by the Information Commissioner, under the 'Your Rights' section.

"This is part of government’s work to strengthen the UK’s data protection laws and make them fit for the digital age," DCMS said.

"[The update to the Data Protection Act] marks a milestone in the internet era, with new laws to put power back in people’s hands so they can be sure the information they share online is safe."