Brexit: ICT and digital services

Part of Dutch ICT services runs via the UK. Brexit may severely impact these flows of information.

• The UK is no longer an EU country. Check if your data processing or storage supplier complies with EU regulations.
• If the product or service is vital to your business operation, you may want to consider alternatives.
• Do you store your data on an external server? Check if this server is located in the UK.

Do you use digital data and services in the UK? For instance software, payroll administration and other software and ICT solutions? Make sure to check which changes are relevant to you.

• Talk about this with your supplier of products, programmes or services. Check if your supplier complies with European legislation.
• Carry out a risk analysis of your suppliers. Consider looking for alternatives if the product or service is vital to your business operation.

A transitional period of 6 months had been agreed for transferring personal data (as defined by the GDPR) to the UK. This way the transfer of personal data between the EU and the UK can continue. The European Commission may decide that the level of security for personal data and privacy is sufficient. That would happen through an ‘adequacy decision’. In that case there will be no changes in the exchange of personal data with the UK. The Commission’s decision is pending.

• Check the website of the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit persoongegevens, in Dutch) for more information on exchanging data with the UK (in Dutch).
• Use the information of the Dutch DPA to determine what you should do if there is no adequacy decision (in Dutch).
• The British government also offers information on the exchange personal data.

Health, welfare and sports

The sectors health, welfare and sports have their own GDPR Helpdesk (in Dutch), with information on Brexit specific to these sectors.

NLdigital represents the interests of the ICT and telecom industry in the Netherlands. Find more information on the NLdigital website (in Dutch).

ICTWaarborg is a community for Dutch ICT companies. Check the ICT Waarborg website for more information (in Dutch).

The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers represents 155 sector associations and around 500 enterprises. They explain the VNO-NCW position on Brexit on their website (in Dutch).

MKB-Nederland (translated as SME Netherlands) represent the interests of over 170,000 entrepreneurs (SMEs). They explain the MKB-Nederland position on Brexit on their website (in Dutch).