A community meeting discussing Jamaica's Sex Offender Registry. People are gathered around a table with signs in the background reading "Protect Our Children" and "Right to Privacy." The debate highlights the tension between public safety and privacy rights.

Considering the risks in giving public access to Jamaica’s Sex Offender Registry.

08 Jun 2024

The tragic case of Danielle Anglin has reignited the debate over whether Jamaica’s Sex Offender Registry should be made public. Advocates argue that transparency would enhance community safety by allowing citizens to make informed decisions, while opponents warn of the risks of vigilantism and stigmatization. This article explores both sides of the debate and examines the implications of balancing public safety with privacy rights through a detailed Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).

Data Protection Enforcement: The Case for Appointing Local Representatives for Foreign Entities

06 Jun 2024

The tragic abduction and murder of Danielle Anglin, a dedicated teacher at St Peter Claver Primary and Infant School, has highlighted gaps in the enforcement of Jamaica’s Data Protection Act, particularly concerning foreign entities operating within the country. This case underscores the urgent need for the Office of the Information Commissioner to enforce the law […]

Navigating the Data Protection Act: How Media Houses Can Stay Compliant and Thrive

06 Jun 2024

Navigating the Data Protection Act: How Media Houses Can Stay Compliant and Thrive

In a recent interview on CVM’s “Sunrise,” I explored the significant impact of the Data Protection Act on media houses. The discussion highlighted the delicate balance media entities must strike between disseminating information and adhering to strict data protection regulations. Key takeaways include understanding the unique aspects of the Act, the role of Data Protection Officers (DPOs), and insights from an Italian case that underscores the importance of compliance. Discover practical strategies to navigate these regulations while upholding journalistic integrity and protecting privacy rights.

Deposit Portability: a Legal requirement, Not at Strategic Option

07 Jul 2023

Based on recent pronouncements by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) the BOJ is currently pioneering the development of strategies to make deposit portability a reality. Their ambition is commendable: to enable both the banked and unbanked to seamlessly shift between various banks, while maintaining their standing instructions and circumventing the traditionally cumbersome account opening procedures […]

Urgent Data Protection Concerns in the Sharing of Data between Auditor General’s Department and FID: Safeguarding Privacy in the Pursuit of Justice

07 Jul 2023

Introduction: In the digital age where personal data is increasingly vulnerable and can be subject to state abuse. More so in the advent of the 2019 NIDS decision (Julian Robinson v The Attorney General) that declared that our right to informational privacy is guaranteed by the Constitution , the recent strategic partnership between the Auditor […]

Say Cheese, but Mind the Privacy: The Intricacies of Using Personal Images at the Workplace

07 Jul 2023

Are you caught up in the visual culture of the digital era, zealously documenting office events and achievements? While it’s a fantastic way to share memories and foster team spirit, have you stopped to think about privacy rights and how they relate to these photographs? Let’s delve into the complex yet fascinating world of data […]

The duty to process personal data fairly under the Data Protection Act and the impact on marketing as we know it.

13 Nov 2022

In this article I address one aspect of the first data processing standard, the duty to process personal data fairly and what this actually means from a practical point of view. The main action to be taken away from this article is that, as the entity responsible for the collection of personal data,

Did Statin get the memo that there is a Data Protection Act

13 Nov 2022

To date I have received 6 text messages from Jam-Census, these text messages were all sent during the month of September. While writing this I received another. Where did they get my number from? Why are they spamming my phone?

Statin and Direct Marketing: A case study

13 Nov 2022

Did any one give the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin), the memo that there is now a Data Protection Act(DPA) and that sending out promotional text messages is circumscribed under the legislation and that they are subject to the law in the same manner that