Data transfer law needs upgrade as Brexit looms

When the UK leaves the EU on 29 March, the law on transferring personal data to other countries without formal permission needs to change. Dátueftirlitið (the Data Protection Agency) has called on the government to amend the rules regarding data transfers.

And now the government has submitted a bill seeking to allow personal data transfers to other countries without prior permission from the Data Protection Agency, provided that the recipient country is approved as ‘safe’.

Safe nations

Many Faroese businesses have agreements with British businesses regarding data transfers, and the government says that businesses from both nations may suffer financially if the data transfer law is not amended.

British authorities recently contacted the Representation of the Faroes in London requesting that the UK is approved as a safe data transfer nation and thus ensuring that personal data can continue to flow freely between the two nations.

The Data Protection Agency also recommends that the amendments should include other ‘safe’ nations such as Andorra, Canada, Israel, Jersey, New Zealand and Uruguay.

Translated by prosa.fo