The UK’s data protection laws will remain closely tied with the EU’s after Brexit.
That’s according to a newly published working paper – the latest in a string of documents seeking to flesh out key issues in the run up to Brexit – which states that it would be mutually beneficial for the UK and the EU to acknowledge current regulations to avoid further disruption to businesses and safeguard the continued flow of data.
“After leaving the EU, the UK will continue to play a leading global role in the development and promotion of appropriate data protection standards and cross-border data flows.
“In doing so we will work alongside the EU and other international partners to ensure that data protection standards are fit for purpose – both to protect the rights of individuals, but also to allow businesses and public authorities to offer effective services and protect the public,” the paper reads.
It then goes on to note that it is essential to avoid regulatory uncertainty for businesses and public authorities in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) and EU adequate countries which currently enjoy the ability to transfer data freely.
Any uncertainty over the nature of the data relationship between the UK and the EU would potentially force businesses on both sides to incur unnecessary costs and time in contingency planning, it adds.
Today’s paper comes after a document published by the government last week suggested that a “temporary customs union” be put in place with the EU to prevent any potential disruption for businesses after the UK officially exits in March 2019.
This, the government said, would allow the “freest and most frictionless possible trade” with the rest of Europe.
The EU is hoping to complete the first stage of Brexit negotiations between October and December 2017.