Pallas Represents Good Law Project in Data Breach Case Against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Pallas is representing the Good Law Project (GLP) in a legal challenge against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK over its failure to comply with Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs).

Over 50 individuals are taking action after Reform UK allegedly breached their data rights by not responding to requests for information about their personal data, which is a violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

This legal case seeks to hold the political party accountable for its actions and ensure that voters' data rights are respected.

What Is a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR)?

A Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) is a legal right under GDPR that allows individuals to request information from an organization about the personal data it holds on them.

Additionally, they can demand the deletion of their data if they wish. In the lead-up to the general election, the Good Law Project developed a tool that allowed voters to send DSARs to political parties, requesting transparency about how their personal data was being used.

However, the Good Law Project found that 96% of individuals who used the tool to contact Reform UK did not receive any response.

Reform UK’s Failure to Respond and Legal Breach

By not responding to these DSARs, Reform UK violated its legal obligations under GDPR, prompting the Good Law Project to take action. After the party ignored these requests, the Good Law Project issued a Letter Before Action (LBA) to Reform UK.

Despite this, Reform UK continued to disregard subsequent legal letters. This persistent non-compliance has led to further legal action, with over 50 claimants now pursuing a collective challenge under a legal mechanism that remains largely untested in the UK.

The Role of Pallas in the Legal Challenge

The Pallas legal team, led by partner Matt Getz, is now representing the claimants in the next stage of this legal battle. The team also includes counsel Rekha Rogers and associate Joseph Fox-Davies.

Together, they are pushing forward with the case, aiming to hold Reform UK accountable for its failure to respond to voters' data requests. The challenge not only questions Reform UK's actions but also aims to set a precedent for future legal cases concerning political parties’ responsibilities under data protection laws.

Transparency in Political Data Handling

This legal challenge is not just about one political party’s failure to comply with data protection laws; it also reflects a growing concern about how political organizations handle voters’ personal data.

Through its #StopTargetingMe campaign, the Good Law Project and its supporters have been advocating for transparency and fairness in the way political parties collect and use personal data.

If successful, this case could have significant implications for how political parties handle voter data and could potentially lead to stronger regulations around data protection in political campaigns.