If you thought the GDPR had a disappointing ring of informality to it, you will be delighted to hear that the final translated text of the GDPR has now been published in the Official Journal. As a result, it has a number: Regulation 2016/679. But it is not just a number; it is also a free man, having a lengthy name (“Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC”). The OJ English text in html can be found here, and the pdf here. Article 99(2) provides that it shall apply from 25 May 2018.

Altogether now: ‘Remember my name: Regulation 2016/679! I’m going to live forever!* I’m going to learn how to fly!**”

*Or at least until the next burst of data protection enthusiasm.

**Although better details on learning to fly may be found in the new Passenger Name Record Directive, or Directive 2016/681. The Criminal Law Enforcement Data Protection Directive, or Directive 2016/680, has also now been published.

Regulation 2016/679 doesn’t sound very catchy, but we’ll all know it off by heart soon enough.

Christopher Knight