Data Protection for Political Parties and Candidates – the Fundamentals (5 half-days remote course)

28/05/2021
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
03/06/2021
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
04/06/2021
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
11/06/2021
10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Introduction and Purpose

Political parties and candidates for elected office are significant processors of personal data both in terms of the data that is used to get elected and the information that they process as elected representatives.

This masterclass course has been developed by Castlebridge based on over a decade of experience working with and advising political parties, referendum campaign groups, and independent candidates. It provides practical insights into what the law actually is in relation to data protection as it applies to political activities.

Key Objectives

Delegates will learn pragmatic approaches to improving their organisation’s compliance capability, establishing a foundation of trust and trustworthiness in their data, and navigating the challenges of using data effectively and in a compliant manner to support their constituents, deliver on their mandate, and grow their vote.

Topics to be covered include:

• GDPR fundamentals and understanding the scope of derogations under the Data Protection Act 2018,
• What “compliant” looks like for data processing by a political party or candidate,
• Transparency,
• Governance,
• Accountability,
• Case study examples from real-world campaign activities,
• What the rules actually are around cookies, electronic marketing etc. for candidates and holders of elected office, and
• EU funding rules and data protection – implications for parties.

Delivery

The course will be taught by Daragh O Brien, FICS, CIPP/E, CIPM, FIP. The sessions will be delivered through five ½ day interactive online workshops. Delegates will receive a certificate evidencing their attendance and the content covered for their own Continuous Professional Development records.