Data protection is not just a matter of law

Updating the 1998 UK Data Protection Act is necessary because in May 2018 a sweeping new EU general directive on data protection takes effect. Any Brexit in 2019 notwithstanding, consistency with EU standards matters for non-EU countries because without it massive amounts of economic and other activity involving flows of personal information to and from the EU may stop or slow.

Source: Data protection is not just a matter of law | Open door | Opinion | The Guardian