Survey sends 'strong message' on data safety

Information Commissioner Paul Vane said there had been a year-on-year rise in awareness of the issue since 2022

A survey of islanders' awareness of data safety sends a "strong message" to organisations handling sensitive information, the head of a data protection body has said.

Jersey Information Commissioner Paul Vane said that since 2022 there had been a 34% rise year-on-year in the number of islanders aware of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

The audit, carried out by the Joint Office of the Information Commissioner (JOIC) earlier this year, found areas of good practice but set out timeframes for improvements in staff training and ensuring effective data protection policies and procedures were in place.

The latest findings were issued as part of the JOIC's 2025 It's All About You survey.

It comes after Mr Vane spoke out in May this year to urge organisations to "get the basics right" if they wanted to avoid breaches of personal data.

A virtual audit of a health service sector dealing with sensitive information had found it had suffered breaches in the past.

Mr Vane said the survey showed islanders "are increasingly placing significant value on their personal information and the importance of feeling empowered, confident and in control of it, as well as wanting to find out more about exercising their personal information rights".

He said he hoped the results of the audit sent a "very strong message" to organisations trusted with safeguarding people's data.

"As a fundamental human right, data protection is intrinsically linked to wellbeing, mental health, reducing inequalities and improving living standards," he said.

"Breaches of personal information can have devastating and life changing consequences for individuals."

He added that organisations had to be accountable to their staff, customers and themselves for their actions as they handled and processed it.

Mr Vane said that given the increasing use of technology, "it is critical, now more than ever, that Islanders work together to ensure Jersey maintains the very highest standards of data protection not only for each other, but for those that interact with Jersey".

The 2025 survey also found 90% of respondents said they were aware of risks around their personal information and concerned about them sometimes, often or every day.

When asked which particular types of personal information would be of concern if lost or shared without permission, more than 96% rated credit and debit card as their biggest concern year on year.

This was followed by passport data, biometric data, ID information and health data.

The JOIC said it drew on the annual survey findings to help shape its guidance and events.