As a church minister I am reading up on data protection as new laws come in May (The web was stolen from us. This is how we can take it back, 24 March). My understanding is that churches, along with all other organisations, businesses and charities, will have to look at any data we hold (for churches that is membership lists and luncheon club registers) and make sure that we have good reason to be holding that data. We can only hold it if we have either contractural obligation, legal obligation, legitimate purposes or consent. We will then need to send a privacy notice to each person whose data we hold, with a list of that data, so the person can ask for it to be corrected or deleted. If Facebook holds any data on me (my likes, dislikes and political views) am I to assume that it will check with me that it’s correct? Or do different rules apply here?
Rev Glayne Worgan
Sale, Cheshire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
