She says the new law will protect personal records, and show businesses around the world that Jersey is a well-regulated and reputable jurisdiction.
Under the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005 which comes into force on 1 December, the office of the Data Protection Commissioner will become independent of States departments.
If proposals for a new Freedom of Information Law by the Privileges and Procedures Committee are successful, the office will combine that function with data protection.
The law will charge a £50 fee to anyone processing personal information about other people, and will give individuals rights to see information being held about them.
Mrs Martins said: ‘I know that for many, data protection is seen as bureaucratic red tape that serves no tangible purpose, but if we all think for a moment about the ways in which information personal to us is used, it becomes clearer exactly why protection is so important.
‘Our bank holds valuable information, our doctor holds sensitive information, CCTV cameras record our movements, RFID tags in goods we buy from shops can be used as tracking devices, our mobile phone can pinpoint our location, increasing use of biometrics .
. .
the list is almost endless.’
