Provides a comprehensive guide to the Data Protection Act 1998, answering questions such as: what written records are regulated under the Act?; how is data processing defined and what effect does this have?; and how does the Act affect collection and use of customer information?

The Data Protection Act 1998 regulates any "structured set of personal data" and so brings written records as well as computerised data under its control. Any business that holds personnel records, customer databases and credit-rating information is affected. This text provides a comprehensive guide to the Data Protection Act 1998, answering questions such as: what written records are regulated under the Act; how is data processing defined and what effect does this have; how does the Act affect collection and use of customer information; and what effect does the Act have on the use of customer data by sister and parent companies? The text combines the full text of both the Data Protection Act 1998 and the EC Directive "Data Protection: the New Law".

Application of the Act - definition
the data protection principles
the rights of data subjects
registration and exemption
enforcement, appeals and powers of entry
the duties of the commissioner
the ISDN directive - telecommunications and data protection.