Regulations came onto force throughout Europe back in 2018. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR – or RGPD in French) is the first pan-European measure aimed at ensuring a consistent level of security in all organisations that hold personal data.

From an individuals point of view, the main advantages of the legislation are:

• We all have a right to know exactly what personal data is being held.
• We have the right to ask any organisation the specifics of what personal data they hold and how it is being used.
• Organisations must to be able to demonstrate how they are ensuring the security of the data they hold.

Personal data is defined as any information about a living individual which is capable of identifying that individual. This would include such information as name, address, email address, phone number, photo, bank details etc.

Any database containing two or more of these pieces of information would be of interest to those involved in identity theft.  Even your own address book, be it electronic or paper, has a potential value!

The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine complies with the EU and UK GDPR legislation for protection of personal data.