new social media law data protection update

<p>Ever looked back through your social media feed and cringed at the pictures you put up back in 2006? We’ve all been there to manually delete those embarrassing pictures so our new boss or significant other doesn’t see them. Deep down though we all know that somewhere deep in the bowels of all major social media companies, a record of those posts exists and if traced hard enough, they can be found.</p> <p>But now, new legislation will be set to allow UK users of Facebook and other social media the right to request a permanent delete of posts that they no longer want accessible ever. (We never want to see those Friday night pictures ever again!)</p> <p>It all comes while the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation is being drafted into UK law itself with a few added amendments. This being one of them. You’ll be able to request a deletion of posts, however, the company still reserves the right to allow or deny it based on grounds of whether there is social or historical importance or simply down to freedom of expression.</p> <p>The new law is also set to force companies to make sure they take very explicit consent for marketing and other purposes. At the moment companies like to use mind boggling wording in order to confuse the user into giving their consent to use of personal information.</p> <p>The new law aims to expand the meaning of personal information to IP Addresses, cookies and also biometrics that are stored on phones. It will also aim to make it easier for users to withdraw consent at any time, and to find out exactly what information is held about them by any given company,</p> <p>Companies who refuse to comply are facing heavy and hefty fines and will need to make sure they put into place robust systems in order to not be caught. Firms with huge breaches of security could find themselves paying around 4% of turnover, a huge rise in the current maximum fine of £500,000.</p> <p>The Digital Minister, Matt Hancock, has said that “The new Data Protection Bill will give us one of the most robust, yet dynamic, set of data laws in the world. The bill will give people more control over their data, require more consent for its use, and prepare Britain for Brexit,”</p> <p>For more information about privacy, and data protection or to seek legal advice call our team on <a>0116 2999 199 </a>or email us at <a>info@d-w-s.co.uk</a></p> <p> </p>