GDPR - rules and requirements

[liverbird79]

Hi

I hope someone can offer me some advice.

So as not to drip feed, here is a basic summary.

I've had a few years of problems with my ex.

Issues with emotional abuse, financial abuse.

Non reliable with our child and disappearing for weeks on end plus abusive messages and just general dick behaviour towards us.

He is now seeing a psychologist who he claims has diagnosed him with bi polar and ADHD which he is claiming is to blame for all of his previous behaviour.

He has stated that his psychiatrist has asked for the instant messages we shared when we first started going out (these were on a work platform where we both worked and everyone was allowed to use it for work questions, general chat etc).

With the new GDPR rules in place, can they send this without my consent?

TIA

GDPR does not apply to an individual when they are dealing with data for personal or household purposes, so my view is that he does not need your consent to share the messages if he does so himself. However, your ex-employer should not share the messages unless they have your consent or a court order forcing them to disclose the information.

Thank you. He has requested them from our previous employer so I am to expect a communication from them to gain my agreement then.

Or do you think it's likely hat they will just issue and redact my name?

I wouldn't like to predict what they will do! Businesses don't always comply with the rules. However, if they are asked for IMs between your ex and you, redacting your name would be insufficient as it would still clearly be your personal data. If they ask for all his IM conversations they could possibly get away with anonymising them so it wasn't clear who he was talking to, but that would not be easy. In my view they should ask for your consent but that doesn't necessarily mean they will.

Yes I thought that too.

I don't know whether to pre empt this and contact them now stating I do not give my permission.

Ultimately I have no way of knowing if they will provide it as he is unlikely to tell me and I can't trust what he says anyway.

Sigh.

I don't particularly want to contact them as it's a small industry and it would be a bit like airing my dirty laundry.

To be honest I would not believe your exh. I really doubt that any psychiatrist would ask for them.