how to keep your web site legal:
Data protection
If you plan to collect information on other people
through your web site you will have to comply with the Data Protection
Act.
There are some things that everyone is obliged to do:
- Make it clear why you are collecting the information and only use it
for that purpose e.g. if you have a 'newsletter subscription' form don't
then use that information for a telesales campaign, unless that option
is also included on the form.
- Ensure that your users are aware that you are collecting their data.
E.g. if you have an opinion poll on your site that you are also using to
collect voters e-mail addresses, then you must make it clear to them.
- Make sure that the information you keep is accurate, up to date and
don't keep it any longer than necessary.
- Don't pass the data onto anyone outside of your business without the
individual's consent. This means that you must take steps to store the
data securely e.g. use a firewall to protect data stored on your own
computer or network. Don't send out the kind of group e-mail that
enables each recipient to see the e-mail addresses of all the other
recipients.
- If any one asks for a copy of the data that you hold on them you are
obliged to provide it.
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You may not have to actually register with the Information
Commissioner if you are just using the data for marketing your own business.
However, you will to have to register if:
- You are collecting sensitive information, particularly credit card
or bank details
- If you plan to use the information that you collect for research
- If you will be the selling the information on to other businesses,
as part of a mailing list, for example.
Registering only costs £35 per year. Look at the data protection web
site for full details of who is obliged to register and how to do it.
Beware of consultants who offer to register your business for a large fee
- they are usually nothing to do with the Information Commissioner's
office. You can get more information on these scams from the data
protection site (see the link box on the right).
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