Overview

This bill amends the Data Protection Act 1998 to improve the clarity and accessibility of online privacy notices. It aims to ensure that individuals, especially children, understand how their personal data is collected, processed, and used before giving their consent.

Description

The Online Privacy Protection Bill adds a ninth principle to the Data Protection Act 1998's Schedule 1. This principle mandates that privacy notices must be concise, transparent, intelligible, easily accessible, and use plain language. Special consideration is given to ensuring clarity for children. The bill further specifies that when assessing compliance with this ninth principle, regulators should consider the prominence of information about data collection on a website or app, and the method used to obtain consent, particularly from children.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any changes to government spending. The implementation may involve some administrative costs for regulatory bodies to oversee compliance, but no figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Website and app owners: They will need to revise their privacy notices to comply with the new requirements, potentially incurring costs in updating systems and legal advice.
• Data subjects (individuals): Will benefit from clearer and more easily understandable privacy notices, empowering them to make informed decisions about their data.
• Children: Will receive particular protection through the requirement for extra clarity in information given to them.
• Regulatory bodies (e.g., the Information Commissioner's Office): Will have increased responsibilities in enforcing the new principle.

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