Generally Recognised Standards for use in the data protection purpose ‘archiving purposes in the public interest’
Generally Recognised Standards for use in the data protection purpose ‘archiving purposes in the public interest’
In May 2025, following the introduction of the Data (Use and Access) Bill into the UK Parliament, the Archives and Records Association UK & Ireland (ARA) noted the requirement to agree “generally recognised standards” relating to the data protection purpose “archiving purposes in the public interest”. Together with other sector bodies ARA agreed to commission a specialist consultant to draft the generally recognised standards with the support of data protection specialists from the archive and records management sector. The proposal involved the sector and leading sector organisations to ensure that the resulting standards are adopted across the sector without objection.
The following partner organisations all agreed with the proposal:
The National Archives
National Records of Scotland
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Welsh Government Culture Division
Information and Records Management Society
Business Archives Council
Scottish Council on Archives
Archives and Records Council Wales
British Records Association
As well as the ARA these organisations represent the archives and records management sector in the UK, both individuals and organisations.
The Information Commissioner’s Office also confirmed its support and was involved in the development of the standards as a consultee.
In August 2025, Naomi Korn Associates was appointed as the consultant. They have now drafted the standards with input from the organisations listed above via nominated archivists and records managers with detailed and practical knowledge of data protection and archives and records.
The Generally Recognised Standards are now published here.
Where record-keeping services are archiving in the public interest these standards should be applied.