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ARTICLE · 14 OCTOBER 2024

Data & Cyber School: An Essential Guide To 'Alerting The Affected' When Managing Data Breach Notifications

Gowling WLG
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This article outlines UK GDPR notification procedures following a personal data breach. Organizations must notify the ICO within 72 hours if individuals' rights are at risk. It also details when to inform affected individuals and stresses accurate reporting, prompt action, and cooperation with authorities.

United KingdomPrivacy
Amber Strickland
Amber Strickland
Saha Dehsheykhi
Saha Dehsheykhi
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In the event of a personal data breach, organisations face critical responsibilities regarding notification procedures. Primarily, there is a legal obligation under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to inform the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) of a personal data breach under specific circumstances. Additionally, in cases where the breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, organisations must also notify the affected data subjects. Both of these notification processes are crucial steps in maintaining data protection legal compliance, mitigating risks, and upholding the rights of individuals to be informed.

In this second article in our 'data and cyber school' series, we provide a clear overview of notification procedures, guiding organisations through their obligations to both the ICO and data subjects alike, thereby ensuring transparency, regulatory compliance and responsible data handling practices.

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