The Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 (“DPJL”) is based around six principles of ‘good information handling’. These principles give people (the data subjects) specific rights in relation to their personal information and place certain obligations on those organisations that are responsible for processing it.
The Data Protection Authority (Jersey) Law 2018 (DPAJL) requires all controllers and processors, who are established* in Jersey to register with the Authority and to pay a fee (subject to certain exemptions). Under the DPAJL anyone who does not comply with these provisions is guilty of a criminal offence and subject to a fine.
What is Registration?
Registration is the process by which data controllers and data processors (organisations that process personal data on behalf of controllers) inform the Authority of certain details about their processing of personal information. These details are used by the Commissioner to make an entry describing the processing in a register that is available for inspection by the public.
The principal purpose of registration is transparency and openness. It is a basic principle of data protection that the public should know (or should be able to find out) who is processing their personal information as well as other details about the processing (such as why the processing is taking place).
*Article 4(4) of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 details that the following is to be treated as established in Jersey –
(a) a natural person who is ordinarily resident in Jersey;
(b) a body incorporated under the law of Jersey;
(c) a partnership or other unincorporated association formed under the law of Jersey;
(d) any person who does not fall within sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) but maintains in Jersey –
(i) an office, branch or agency through which the person carries on any processing of personal data, or
(ii) a regular practice that carries on any processing of personal data; or
(e) any person engaging in effective and real processing activities through stable arrangements in Jersey.
