New Data Protection Regime Must Provide Boost For Journalism

A new data protection regime for the UK must provide a much-needed boost for journalism by helping publishers to better monetise the news they distribute online, the News Media Association has said today.

Tomorrow (Friday), Oliver Dowden is expected to launch a consultation on data reform, setting out proposals to create a new data protection regime outside of the EU.

The consultation will fire the starting gun on a major reform of data protection in the UK which the Culture Secretary has said will enable the country “to pursue a new era of data-driven growth and innovation.”

The Information Commissioner’s Office has this week called on fellow G7 data protection and privacy authorities to “work together to overhaul cookie consent pop-ups, so people’s privacy is more meaningfully protected and businesses can provide a better web browsing experience.”

The Government has announced that New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner John Edwards is the preferred candidate for Information Commissioner, replacing Elizabeth Denham whose term as Information Commissioner ends on 31 October.

The News Media Association said: “Reform of the data protection regime represents an opportunity to provide a much-needed boost for journalism by helping publishers to better monetise the news they distribute online.

“We look forward to working with Government and the ICO to ensure that the new regime promotes and enhances journalism in this country, enabling publishers to serve ever increasing audiences with the high quality news and information they demand.”