The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) supplements the UK GDPR by providing additional provisions specific to the UK. It outlines how personal data should be processed in compliance with GDPR principles while addressing unique UK requirements, including exemptions and special conditions for certain types of processing.

• Lawful Basis for Processing: Establishes specific legal grounds under which data can be processed, such as consent, legal obligation, or public interest.
• Exemptions and Special Conditions: Provides exemptions for certain processing activities, such as journalism, research, and criminal data processing.
• Children’s Data: Specifies additional protections for processing data of individuals under 13 years of age.
• Data Subject Rights: Expands upon UK GDPR rights, including the right to rectification, erasure, and data access.
• Accountability and Governance: Requires organizations to maintain documentation of data processing activities and ensure that policies meet DPA 2018 standards.

The DPA 2018 was enacted on May 23, 2018, and went into effect on May 25, 2018. It remains a cornerstone of data protection in the UK, particularly post-Brexit.

• Fines and Penalties: The ICO can impose significant fines for non-compliance with the DPA 2018.
• Legal Liability: Individuals can seek compensation for damages caused by data protection breaches.
• Reputational Harm: Non-compliance may result in negative publicity, affecting consumer trust and brand image.
• Operational Impact: Remediation efforts following non-compliance may be costly and resource-intensive.

• Enhanced Data Governance: Compliance with DPA 2018 encourages organized, secure data processing.
• Trust and Transparency: Meeting DPA 2018 requirements shows a commitment to privacy, improving stakeholder relationships.
• Reduced Legal Risks: Adhering to the DPA 2018 minimizes the risk of litigation or regulatory enforcement.
• Alignment with UK GDPR: Compliance with DPA 2018 supports broader data protection efforts under UK GDPR.