Jamaica Gleaner

IT law expert to shed light on Data Protection Act

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‘The key is for businesses to make themselves aware of the parameters of the Data Protection Act and make the necessary adjustment­s to align with it’

AS THE evolution of technology continues to transform various industries across the board, consumers’ personal data become more vulnerable to unauthoris­ed access and manipulati­on.

During the upcoming Tech Con by tTech, slated for Friday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, IT experts will provide key insights on the topic of the Data Protection Act and how businesses can be compliant.

Tech Con by tTech is a conference designed to explore the latest advances in technology, its rapid developmen­t and the solutions it can provide users globally. The event will feature multiple noteworthy speakers including legal specialist Georgia Gibson Henlin, partner at Henlin Gibson Henlin, who will focus on the implicatio­ns of keeping data in the cloud in response to the looming Data Protection Act and how mistakes can be avoided.

With more than 20 years of wide-ranging experience, Gibson Henlin has been deemed an expert in informatio­n technology law. Part of her discussion will explain how data stored in the cloud, in many cases, exist in several locations around the globe. With each location denoting risks that involve local laws and regulation­s, the Data Protection Act comes into play and forms an important role in safeguardi­ng the privacy of an individual’s identifiab­le and sensitive informatio­n.

The legislatio­n has been built on the framework of the European Union’s GDPR, which compels businesses to obtain clearer consent for using customers’ informatio­n. The Data Protection Act introduces tough penalties for failing to protect people’s data and while businesses are required to be clear about consent, the legislatio­n stipulates that data are only to be obtained for specific lawful purposes, be relevant to the intended purpose, and not collected in excess.

“The key is for businesses to make themselves aware of the parameters of the Data Protection Act and make the necessary adjustment­s to align with it,” said Christophe­r Reckord, CEO of tTech Limited.

“Tech Con by tTech promises to bridge the gap for business owners by connecting the dots between IT strategy, governance and laws, trends and cybersecur­ity risks.”

The establishm­ent of the Data Protection Act is a more proactive approach to securing critical personal data. With such keen local and internatio­nal attention on the subject, businesses should be taking the necessary precaution­s to protect their customers’ data to regain and maintain their trust.

 ??  ?? CEO of tTech Limited, Christophe­r Reckord.
CEO of tTech Limited, Christophe­r Reckord.
 ??  ?? GIBSON HENLIN
GIBSON HENLIN

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