Data protection might not be the most riveting part of email marketing, but it's the most important — especially for SMEs handling subscriber data on a daily basis. A useful starting point is the guidance provided by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), including its practical GDPR self-assessment for small businesses. This tool is quite helpful for … READ MORE »
Data protection regulations can be seen as the bane of anyone who collects or maintains personal data. We, with our dependence on email marketing lists, have to make a considerable investment with regards to research and training staff, so being told by the ICO that we might need to make a Data Protection Impact Assessment … READ MORE »
The good news is that you almost certainly do not. There is no requirement for a Data Protection Officer (DPO) just for email marketing lists and various HR functions unless you are a public authority, track online behaviour or process special categories. If in doubt go to: So that’s it, you might think; no wasted … READ MORE »
As titles go for an e-book the Information Commissioner’s Office have not gone for one that grabs the attention and instead just stuck with descriptive. Let’s face it, if you saw a book in Waterstones entitled; Big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data protection you probably wouldn’t pick it for holiday reading. At 114 … READ MORE »
As titles go for an e-book, the Information Commissioner’s Office has not gone for one that grabs the attention and instead just stuck with descriptive. Let’s face it, if you saw a book in Waterstones entitled; Big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data protection you probably wouldn’t pick it for holiday reading. At 114 … READ MORE »
Email marketing doesn't exist in a vacuum. It operates within a strict and ever-evolving legal framework. The latest edition to the email compliance framework is The Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA), which received Royal Assent on 19 June 2025. While the DUAA does not replace the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and … READ MORE »
The ICO (the Information Commissioner’s Office) polices data protection and, with our, hopefully massive, email marketing lists, you’d think we should be wary of them but it’s just the reverse. We should look upon them as a valuable asset. It is almost as if the ICO doesn’t want a lot of bother. It’s the easy … READ MORE »
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a 12-point checklist in order to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Whilst the earliest the GDPR will become law is 2018, the ICO points out that you need to consider what changes you will need to make now. The steps are: 1/ Awareness, 2/ … READ MORE »
Privacy by design is an approach to projects that promotes privacy and data protection compliance from the start. Unfortunately, these issues are often bolted on as an after-thought or ignored altogether. Although this approach is not a requirement of the Data Protection Act, it will help organisations comply with their obligations under the legislation. The … READ MORE »
If you retain email marketing lists the General Data Protection Regulations will have a substantial impact on the way you do business. Whilst the two years until implementation is comforting, what must be accepted is that planning needs to start now. One of the key tools in this process is Privacy by Design. I’m unable … READ MORE »