With all the speculation and toing and froing of will he won’t he get a deal, the one thing that may slipped us all by is how we deal with data. Currently and certainly for the time being the flow of data within the EU is unrestricted, but what happens if that deal isn’t achieved and we leave at 11pm on Thursday 31st October?
If fate decides that we end our relationship with the EU in a ‘No deal’ scenario. In order for UK companies to be able to transfer personal data lawfully extra measures will need to be in place. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) offers guidance for businesses in the event of a ‘No deal’ as they understand and recognise the concerns of business.
Of course there is the possibility of an eleventh hour deal and so the pressure will be off for a short time at least. Data will be able to flow until 2020 by which time a long term solution will have been put in place (fingers crossed).
What must be remembered is that this flow of data is not just to our EU neighbours but also to Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein as they are part of the extended ‘family’ of the EEA.
