{"id":153,"date":"2013-05-05T21:46:46","date_gmt":"2013-05-05T18:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lawlorkiernan.ie\/?p=153"},"modified":"2024-11-28T14:51:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T11:51:53","slug":"business-post-march-18-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawlorkiernan.ie\/ru\/business-post-march-18-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Post \u2013 March 18, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Business Guide to Data Protection<\/h2>\n

Sunday, May 5 2013<\/em><\/h6>\n

Data Protection has become a hot topic for the Irish legal system. The unprecedented growth of awareness in the area is evident both in the media and among Irish companies and individuals. The mass use of social network sites like Facebook, the use of cloud computing to store data online and our increasing reliance on technology in all areas of our life has meant that the safe and private storage and retention of our personal data is imperative. It is a case of striking a balance between opposing rights. On one side are the interests of the public and on the other is the freedom of corporate bodies to run their day to day affairs.<\/p>\n

In the past year we have seen a shift in favour of the consumer with a greater emphasis on their rights. The result has been that companies must act to preserve their rights to privacy by ensuring that they do not breach data protection laws. Both corporate organisations and the modern state hold a great deal of information about many aspects of our daily lives. Indeed, the amounts of information we give to the state and that which the state takes from us whether it is for reasons of tax, social welfare, education or law enforcement is increasing all the time.<\/p>\n

In one recently reported case, a data protection breach occurred when a storage box with confidential files from a counselling service collapsed and documents were found on the street visible to anyone who passed by. In the last few months a number of major telephone companies have also been fined for breaches under the data protection acts by engaging in unsolicited marketing. Experian, the world\u2019s largest credit-checking company was investigated by the Data Protection Commissioner in November for a large number of breaches of it databases.<\/p>\n

Social network giant Facebook may face proceedings for breaches of privacy from an Austrian student. In Europe v Facebook campaign Max Schrems, a 25 year old Austrian law student , is seeking to launch a multi-year legal battle that might significantly re- define how Facebook controls the personal data it holds on over one billion people worldwide.<\/p>\n

The law on data protection is governed by the 1988 and 2003 Data Protection Acts. Non-compliance with the law can result in one or all of the following consequences:<\/h5>\n