Note to Members on the Data Protection Act

Transcribed from the printed issue; not yet reviewed. Read it in the PDF of the issue, page 9

The information in Vector 8.4, and on recent Membership Application forms is incorrect — for which I must take the blame, as I was in full possession of the facts, but failed to match them up.

The British APL Association is not an unincorporated members club, because it is part of the British Computer Society (BCS). Hence the exemption referred to in the earlier note does not apply. On the other hand, the BCS has to register under the Data Protection Act, because of its various activities, and this registration extends to cover the activities of the British APL Association, for which purpose it is more than adequate.

This means in particular that, subject to the conditions laid down in the Act, we are permitted to process on a computer personal data relating to our members with or without their express consent.