Overview

The sharing of customer data is now a common practice within the retail sector; group companies pool customer data in order to offer related goods and services; businesses share data with retail analysts; and online retailers provide data to anti-fraud bodies.

However, on 11 May 2011 the Information Commissioner’s Office published a new statutory code of practice on data sharing, setting out guidelines on when data can be shared and how it should be
protected. The Code includes information on data sharing laws, advice on remaining transparent and avoiding common mistakes, and a summary checklist that can be used as a quick reference guide to sharing information.

This briefing from Eversheds outlines the code of practice's main points of compliance and advises companies on how best to implement the changes.