Privacy Implications of a 'No Deal' Brexit

How will data privacy between the UK and the EU be impacted by Brexit? The UK’s move out of the union will challenge businesses operating in the region as it creates uncertainty pertaining to the transfer and use of data from one area to another.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) personal data that belongs to EU citizens can flow freely across borders within the European Union, since the information will be sent to countries that provide an adequate level of data protection for its citizens. As a current member of the EU, the UK enforces GDPR, however, a ‘no deal’ Brexit would make it unclear whether the UK will continue to enforce GDPR’s privacy protections. The exchange of personal data between the EU and the UK could become a much more complicated process.

Many businesses are unaware of the ways in which their operations will be affected post-Brexit. There are options mitigating the impact. For example, a firm could establish data processing subsidiaries in geographic locations allowing the continued collection and processing of their customer data. However, this may not feasible for smaller or mid-size businesses. Working with an experienced partner can help guide an organization through the compliance requirements to help develop an appropriate strategy and mitigate the impact.

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Sources:
https://www.gdpr.associates/gdpr-brexit/
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/what-is-gdpr-uk-eu-legislation-compliance-summary-fines-2018
https://www.zdnet.com/article/a-data-disaster-is-approaching-and-most-businesses-arent-ready-for-it/