Data registration deadline looming

Sunday 09 January 2022

The clock is ticking for any organisation which holds our personal data as they all have to re-register with the Office of the Data Protection Authority before the end of next month.

Most organisations have to pay a fee as well, which has to be paid by 28 February.

Any organisation which holds information on people it works with has to register, or renew an existing registration. 

Pictured: Some examples of organisations which have to register, or re-register, with the ODPA by the end of February.

The ODPA's registration process changed last year so now everyone must register or renew, and pay their annual levy during January and February of each year.

Charities or non-profit organisations can register for free, while businesses or other organisations will have to pay a rate depending on the number of employees. That hasn't changed since last year and will cost £2,000 for organisations with 50 or more full-time equivalent staff, and £50 for smaller organisations. 

The ADPA was set up in 2017 to facilitate the Bailiwick's new data protection legislation and to oversee the law which was enacted in 2018.

It is a legal requirement that all organisations, regardless of size or sector, register with the ODPA if they have access to personal details of people using their services for any reason.

The ODPA said it has already contacted all organisations which registered during 2021 to remind them to review and renew their existing registration before the end of February. It is believed to take around five minutes to set up a new registration and all the information for registering or re-registering is at odpa.gg.

Pictured: Emma Martins, Guernsey's Data Protection Commissioner.

The Bailiwick’s Data Protection Commissioner, Emma Martins, said registration is important but it should be seen as a routine part of data management that all organisations should be doing as part of their normal ways of working. 

"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."

Mrs Martins said it doesn't take long to but it is important for all organisations to do so.

"The registration process is deliberately straightforward so that organisations can focus their efforts on what data protection legislation seeks to achieve: ensuring all human beings are treated with respect and dignity."

Corporate service providers, that currently register a number of entities with the ODPA can become an ODPA Levy Collection Agent (LCA) to help them register more easily.

To register with the ODPA, and for more information, visit odpa.gg/registration by 28 February 2022.

Pictured top: There is information to help organisations register at odpa.gg.