The Data Reform Bill: a post-Brexit crossroad

One of the ways the UK is looking to capitalise on its greater legislative freedom outside the European Union is with a "pro-growth data regime". But what are the potential costs of divergence? Sian Stephens and Chris Weaver report on the consequences for businesses and the financial services sector if the EU decides that the Data Reform Bill, once law, fails its adequacy standard.

Sian Stephens (sstephens@phb.co.uk) is an associate who specialises in all aspects of data protection law and Chris Weaver (cweaver@phb.co.uk) is a partner who advises across employment law issues, with law firm Payne Hicks Beach (www.phb.co.uk).

Background to data protection legislation

In 2018, data protection law became a serious preoccupation for businesses with the introduction of a new European law known as the General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR). Today, the protection of data remains a core prerequisite.