Data security - time to rebuild consumer and political confidence

Thanks to numerous well-publicised instances of data losses, breaches and misuses, there is a growing political appetite to reform existing data protection laws on all sides of the political divide

The prominence of the issue has, in particular, led the Tories to make data security a component of their draft election manifesto. In their paper, "Reversing the Rise of the Surveillance State", the Tories pledge to task the Information Commissioner to carry out a consultation with the private sector with a view to introducing an industry-wide kite mark system of best practice, among other things.
If current public opinion polls are to be believed, then we can reasonably assume the forthcoming general election will result in a new Tory administration coming into power. With their election, the political spotlight will fall on data privacy and security. Again, I think we can reasonably assume that any new data protection policies they implement will be weighted heavily in favour of protecting individuals' rights.

By Robert Keitch, Direct Marketing Association
January 2010