Notice

Privacy notice relating to consultation responses received by DSIT

Published 3 May 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dsit-consultations-privacy-notice/privacy-notice-relating-to-consultation-responses-received-by-dsit

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) consults the public as part of its open policy making process. We publish our consultations on GOV.UK.

All information submitted to us will be treated in accordance with data protection principles.

This privacy notice sets out:

  • how we process your personal data when you respond to our consultations
  • the rights you have under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

For information you submit:

  • the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is the data controller
  • the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is the data processor

Privacy policies of other websites

We sometimes use a website called ‘Qualtrics’ to design and host online consultations. The Qualtrics privacy policy explains how they collect, safeguard and process your data.

Your data

Purpose

We collect your personal data as part of the consultation process:

  • so that we can contact you regarding your response or related matters
  • for statistical data, for example the types of individuals and groups participating

The data we collect

We collect and process the following personal data:

  • your name
  • your email or postal address
  • depending on the topic of the consultation, other personal data such as your postcode or employment status
  • any personal data you volunteer by way of evidence or example in your response to the consultation

The legal basis for processing your personal data is to perform a task carried out in the public interest, that of consulting the public.

Why we need it

We collect your name and email or postal address so that we:

  • know you’re a real person
  • can respond to your comments

We also collect data in order to:

  • gather information about the types of individuals and groups participating

What we do with your data

We may share your data with other organisations which have a direct interest in the policy on which we are consulting: for example Crown bodies, government departments or DSIT partner organisations. If we plan to share responses with other bodies, we will make that clear on the consultation.

We will not:

  • sell or rent your data to third parties
  • share your data with third parties for marketing purposes

We will share your data if we are required to do so by law, for example by court order, or to prevent fraud or other crime.

How long we keep your data

We will only retain your personal data for as long as:

  • it is needed for the purposes of the consultation
  • the law requires us to

In general, this means that we will only hold your personal data for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 7 years.

Children’s privacy protection

DSIT consultations are not designed for, or targeted at, children under the age of 13. It is not our policy to intentionally collect or maintain data about anyone under the age of 13.

Your rights

The data we are collecting is your personal data, and you have considerable say over what happens to it. You have the right to request:

  • information about how your personal data are processed
  • a copy of the personal data you submitted in an accessible format
  • that anything inaccurate in your personal data is corrected immediately
  • that any incomplete personal data are completed, including by means of a supplementary statement
  • that your personal data are erased if there is no longer a justification for them to be processed
  • in certain circumstances (for example, where accuracy is contested) that the processing of your personal data is restricted

You can also:

  • object to the processing of your personal data where it is processed for direct marketing purposes
  • lodge a complaint with the independent Information Commissioner (ICO) if you think we are not handling your data fairly or in accordance with the law

Changes to this notice

We may modify or amend this privacy notice at our discretion at any time. When we make changes to this notice, the last modified date at the top of this page will be updated. Any modification or amendment to this privacy notice will be applied to you and your data as of that revision date. If these changes affect how your personal data is processed, DSIT will take reasonable steps to make sure you know.

How to contact us

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) with any concerns about how we or our services handle your personal information:

DSIT Data Protection Officer

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
22-26 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2EG

Independent advice on data protection and privacy

Contact the Information Commissioner for independent advice about data protection, privacy and data-sharing issues:

Contact the ICO:

Email icocasework@ico.org.uk

Contact form https://ico.org.uk/mak...

Telephone 0303 123 1113

If you make a complaint to the Information Commissioner it doesn’t prejudice your right to seek redress through the courts.

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