Protecting your data online with a Digital Rights Bill

The Liberal Democrats have launched a public consultation on the planned Digital Rights Bill, which the party would introduce if they were to form a new coalition government after the election.

Key measures in the Digital Rights Bill include:

• Prevent government from watering down cyber-security and encryption measures used by British business
• Enshrining in law the responsibility of government to defend the free press, including the rights of journalists and citizen journalists to express their views freely online
• Prison sentences for companies conducting large-scale data theft and illegally selling on personal data
• Beefed up powers for the Information Commissioner to fine and enforce disciplinary action on government bodies if they breach data protection laws
• Legal rights to compensation for consumers when companies make people sign up online to deliberately misleading and illegible terms & conditions
• Code of Practice for online services who would by law have to correct information about members of the public where it is inaccurate or defamatory