The Data Protection Act gives you a limited right to prevent significant decisions being taken about you solely by automatic processing. This affects only those decisions made by a computer where there is no human involvement in the decision. It could include, for example, a decision about your performance at work or your credit worthiness.
You also have the right to be told, as soon as reasonably possible, when this type of decision has been made about you.
What can I do to stop this type of processing?
You can write to an organisation telling them not to make decisions about you on this basis. You should consider sending your letter by recorded delivery and keeping a copy.
The organisation has 21 days to tell you how they intend to respond to your objection. They can either reconsider any decision they have made or make a fresh decision not just using a computer. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can go to court and the court can order the organisation to reconsider the decision they have made or take a new decision on a different basis.
You cannot object to all automated decisions. Some types of decision are exempt which means an organisation does not have to act on your objection.
You do not have a right to object to an automated decision made in relation to a contract or an automated decision required by an Act of Parliament if:
- the outcome of the decision gives you what you want; or
- steps have been taken to protect your interests, for example by providing an appeal process.