John Giles

About John Giles

John delivers practical legal solutions to clients by bringing together knowledge, experience, insight, clear thinking, planning, project management, skilled resources, and efficient technology. He helps organisations grow and avoid legal problems. He is a surfer and a family man. Read more ...

Pre-investigation notice from the Information Regulator: what now?

If a complainant lodges a complaint against you for infringing their privacy rights, the information regulator can issue any one of a few types of notices to you. For example, you could receive an information notice, an enforcement notice, or [...]

Is your domain name being registered in China?

Almost certainly not. If you receive an email telling you that your brand or trademark is being registered in China, it is almost certainly a hoax or a scam. The Chinese domain name scam changes over time but is [...]

By |2026-07-24T09:31:12+02:00July 23rd, 2026|Categories: Domain Name Disputes|Tags: , , |

Map activities, not information or data flows

You should map activities (rather than information, data flows, or processes) as a first step toward complying with data protection laws (such as the GDPR and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act)). The law requires larger organisations to […]

The JSE Listing Requirements and the King Code

What do the JSE listing requirements say about the King Code? Is the King Code part of the requirements? Do listed companies have to comply with the King Code principles? Have the JSE listing requirements changed since the last King [...]

By |2026-06-11T11:34:31+02:00June 10th, 2026|Categories: Governance|Tags: , , , |

What is a private body or organisation?

The law treats a private body differently from a public body, so it is essential that you know the difference. Some laws (like POPIA and PAIA) require private bodies to do specific things (like submit a PAIA report). You can [...]

Gated Access Code of Conduct under POPIA

On 30 April 2026, the Information Regulator published the draft Gated Access Code of Conduct under POPIA. It applies to owners, managers, and their security and technology service providers at any gated premises, including residential estates and office parks. The [...]

By |2026-06-23T15:42:55+02:00May 5th, 2026|Categories: Cybersecurity Law, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , |

Does POPIA apply to journalists? Generally, no.

Does POPIA apply to journalists? If POPIA does not apply to you, what must you consider when processing personal information? These are two important questions to ask if you are a journalist who has concerns about the personal information you [...]

By |2026-03-19T16:51:06+02:00March 18th, 2026|Categories: Media Law, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , , , |

Rules or Regulations on the processing of Health Information under POPIA 2026

The information regulator prescribed rules or regulations on the processing of health information under POPIA on 6 March 2026. The Health Information Regulations apply to specific responsible parties (not everyone) who process personal information concerning a data subject’s health for […]

Guidance Note on Conducting a Personal Information Impact Assessment

The Information Regulator plans to draft a Guidance Note on Conducting a Personal Information Impact Assessment (PIIA). The regulator plans to develop this in their next financial year ending 31 March 2027. We assume that the guidance note will be [...]

Guidance note on Transborder Flows of Information under POPIA

The regulator will publish a Guidance Note on Transborder Flows of Information to and from South Africa under POPIA. They will not wait for the finalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. They have been consulting with other authorities, [...]

When must I comply with PAIA? PAIA scope of application

The scope of application of PAIA is triggered when the conduct of a body (public or private) affects the rights of South Africans. Specifically, a body must comply with PAIA when a person may require access to the records it [...]

By |2026-03-06T14:49:33+02:00February 4th, 2026|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , |

The law in 2026 – our predictions

Welcome to the law in 2026! At the beginning of each year, we look ahead to help you prioritise your next steps. This is the law regarding digital, data and tech in 2026. We try to predict what will happen [...]