what is the data protection act 1998?

answers1: The Data Protection Act 1998 is a United Kingdom Act of
Parliament which defines UK law on the processing of data on
identifiable living people. It is the main piece of legislation that
governs the protection of personal data in the UK. Although the Act
itself does not mention privacy, it was enacted to bring UK law into
line with the European Directive of 1995 which required Member States
to protect people's fundamental rights and freedoms and in particular
their right to privacy with respect to the processing of personal
data. In practice it provides a way for individuals to control
information about themselves. Most of the Act does not apply to
domestic use,[1] for example keeping a personal address book. Anyone
holding personal data for other purposes is legally obliged to comply
with this Act, subject to some exemptions. The Act defines eight data
protection principles. It also requires companies and individuals to
keep personal information to themselves.