OIC to process data controllers’ registration applications in order of priority

The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) says it will be processing registration applications for data controllers in order of priority.

The OIC is the regulator for data protection in Jamaica and is led by Information Commissioner Celia Barclay. 

Under the Data Protection Act, which took effect on December 1, 2023, persons holding, receiving, using, collecting or dealing with personally identifiable information of any individual are considered data controllers and must register with the OIC.

In a public notice published on June 2, the OIC said it is balancing the rights and interests of all people as it phases implementation of the Data Protection Act.

The OIC says in the first phase, from June 1 to August 31, it will process applications for data controllers from all public authorities and all data controllers processing personal data, inclusive of sensitive personal data or personal data related to criminal convictions.

This will impact entities that process 10,000 or more data subjects operating within the education, finance, health, information and communications technology, and tourism and hospitality sectors.

“Notwithstanding the above, any data controller, including sole proprietors/practitioners or operators of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across all sectors or industries, can submit their application for registration,” the public notice said. 

A data subject is a named or otherwise identifiable individual who is the subject of personal data. 

Data controllers must have a validated data controller account to access the registration form on the 'My OIC Portal' on the OIC's website. 

The OIC said data controllers who have not yet created their unique data controller accounts will need to do so to gain access to the registration form.

“Those data controllers who have already created their accounts and received the email from the OIC verifying this account may proceed to use the credentials provided in that verifying OIC email to access the registration form and enter their particulars,” the public notice stated.

- JIS News

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.