ODPA registration window closing soon

Tuesday 21 February 2023

The annual registration and renewal window for the Data Protection Authority closes at the end of February.

Businesses need to ensure they have taken the appropriate action to ensure they continue to meet their legal obligations under data protection laws.

Organisations which fail to register divert resources away from carrying out the ODPA’s other activities, such as helping people navigate the law, providing guidance, dealing with enquiries, investigating personal data breaches and mitigating damage in the aftermath of incidents.

There are three criteria if you are unsure if you need to act:

1. You (whether a sole trader, organisation, business, charity, landlord, business association etc.) are established in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
2. You are working with personal data (any information that may identify individual people, such as your staff members, your clients, your business contacts, your service users, your tenants etc.) either as a ‘controller’ or a ‘processor’.
3. The activity you are performing is not part of your personal/household affairs. 

Charities and non-profit organisations can register for free. 

Emma Martins, the Bailiwick’s Data Protection Commissioner, said: “After you've completed the annual exercise of reviewing and renewing your registration with us, it's a good opportunity to review your legal obligations under The Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2017 - as they are what you need to focus on 365 days a year to ensure that you are treating people's data well. 

“Meeting these duties benefits you directly as it helps build trust and confidence with your customers, service users, staff and any other people whose data you use.”