Overview
Confirming your position
Sure. Let’s see how we can help. First of all, we’ll assume that you’re already confident that you need to register as a data controller under the Data Protection Act. If you’re in any doubt, that’s not a problem, we can confirm that for you pretty quickly.
Are you legally obliged to register?
Essentially, if you, your business or your association, obtains, records, stores, updates or shares any information from which a person could be identified then you are legally obliged to protect that information and you probably need to register as a data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
A person could be identified by a vast number of different ways. For example, by CCTV systems, data on digital cameras, smartphones, credit card machines, call logging and recording systems, clocking machines or audio-visual capture and storage systems. In fact, it is almost impossible for any of us to do anything these days without leaving some form of data imprint behind.
What’s involved?
To be officially and legally recognised as a data controller, you need to register with the office of The Information Commissioner. There’s a registration fee of £35 inc. VAT payable to the Information Commissioner’s office.
How to find out more
For help organising your business’ compliance with data protection obligations and on fulfilling your legal duties as a data controller, take a look at our separate pages on this and find out how we can make it easier for you.
