The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (also referred to as the “Commission”) shall use this privacy notice to disclose the Commission’s privacy practices in line with its business requirements and legal obligations to The Data Protection Act, 2020 of Jamaica. The aim is to allow the user to understand what personal data the Commission collects, how it is used, and what control you, as a data subject, have over it. This notice applies to the data collected through the Commission’s website, https://www.bcj.gov.jm when you as a data subject submits personal data or interacts with our webpage.

1. The purpose of this notice is to inform you, the Data Subject, how we handle your data. Including: The types of personal data collected.
2. How personal data is collected, used, shared, stored, and otherwise processed.
3. The security procedures implemented to protect personal data against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. 
4. The different rights regarding the use of the data. This notice will also explain the process of exercising these rights. 

Who We Are

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (an independent statutory agency) is mandated by the Broadcasting and Radio Re-diffusion Act (BRRA) to monitor and regulate free-to-air television, broadcast radio and subscriber television (Cable) services to ensure their operation at appropriate levels in relation to technical, programming, and service standards. The Commission understands the importance of adequately safeguarding information received from data subjects and thus treats protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information with utmost importance. The Commission respects its licensees, employees and all other stakeholders and commit ourselves to indefatigably protecting your information.

For the purposes of this notice, the Commission acts as the “Data Controller”, as we determine how your personal data is used and processed. The Commission also acts as a “regulator” as defined by the DPA, due to the regulatory activity previously mentioned. We have appointed a Data Protection Officer to assist with questions, requests, and complaints regarding this privacy notice and the collection and processing of your personal data. For details on how to contact us, see the Contact Information section at the end of this notice or the relevant section on the home page of our website.

The Personal Data We Collect

The Commission has access to any data that you voluntarily provide via email, telephone, physical and online forms, chat functions, user registration, and letters delivered by hand or post, or in person by visiting the Commission’s office.

Through these means, we collect the following types of data:

• Personal Identifiers (such as full name, TRN, NIS)
• Demographic Information (such as date of birth, age, gender)
• Contact Details (such as phone and home numbers)
• Online Identifiers (such as email address, usernames, and passwords)
• Other information specific to the regulatory services we provide.

How We Use Your Personal Data

At the Commission, we may use your personal data to complete activities, such as:

• Facilitating discussions on regulatory and industry matters.
• Evaluating applicants requesting licenses.
• Conducting investigations into complaints received.
• Making recommendations for the granting of licenses.
• Publishing innovative and practical research. 
• Preparing contracts from bidders conducting litigations on the Commission’s behalf.

All personal data will be processed per the purposes for which it was collected.

It should also be noted that The Commission does not engage in automated decision making.

Legal Bases for Processing Your Information 

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica may process your personal data in accordance with the following lawful bases defined by the JDPA:

• Consent – Whereby you, the data subject has provided permission to the processing of your information. 
• Contract – The processing is necessary to enter into a contract or for the performance of a contract.
• Legal Obligation - The processing is necessary for compliance with an obligation imposed by law. 
• Legitimate interest – The processing is necessary for a legitimate interest pursued by the Commission, which should simultaneously refrain from causing unwarranted prejudice to the rights and freedoms of the data subject.
• Vital Interest – The processing is necessary to protect the requisite interest of the data subject concerned.
• Public Interest – The processing is necessary for the performance of any function exercised in the interest of the public. 

Your Rights Regarding Your Personal Data

We strive to keep your information accurate and current, hence if there are any changes to your personal data (such as a change of address), we urge you to inform us as soon as possible via email (info@bcj.gov.jm), telephone number (876-929-1998) or by visiting the Commission’s office during the working hours stated on our website. 

With your consent, the Commission is authorised to gather and utilise the information you provide via email or other direct forms of communication to fulfil our obligations to you. In accordance with the Data Protection Act, data subjects can exercise the following rights:

• The Right to Access Personal Data – You are entitled to be informed, free of charge, of a description any processing activity with which the Commission (or any affiliate) engages, involving your personal data. It should be noted that there may be instances of requesting where you will have to pay a defined fee, especially if the request seeks to have the information transmitted to another data controller.
• The Right to Consent to Processing – You have the right to be unequivocally informed about any proposed processing of your information by the Commission, so that you may make an enlightened decision as to whether or not you want the processing to occur. This would also include the requirement of having to consent to any form of direct marketing.
• The Right to Prevent Processing – You are entitled to, at any time, inform us (in writing) to cease or not begin processing of any information for which you are the subject - subject to the limitations of the lawful basis behind the processing activity. 
• The Right to Prevent Automated Decision-Making – You are entitled to, at any point in time, convey to us (in writing) a requirement to ensure that no decision on the processing of your data for the purpose of evaluating matters relating to you is solely based on automatic means.
• The Right to Rectify Inaccurate Information - You have the right to request that we rectify any inaccuracies in the personal data within our possession to which you are the subject. An inaccuracy may be recognized as errors or omissions and a rectification can be an amendment, blockage, erasure or destruction of the information.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided in the ‘Contact information’ section below for the appropriate guidance. 

It should be noted that there are exemptions that may hinder the ability of the data subject to exercise their rights with us a regulator, however this should not deter you from taking the necessary steps to exercise your rights . 

If consent is the lawful basis obtained for the performance of a process, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by the same means in which it was given. 

When Do We Collect Information?

There are several touch points from which we collect information from you, these include:

• When you use our website to submit a complaint about a licensee or a query. 
• When you sign up and log into our systems to view the Commission’s rulings and protected content.
• When you attempt to contact us via the different portals or means seen on our website.
• When you set an appointment to and the point at which you are admitted to use the library.
• When you fill out and submit one of the forms available on our website.
• When you connect to the Commission’s network via any means.
• When you are entering into a contract or limited tender with the Commission.
• When you apply for a role within the Commission.
• During the application for a licence, subscription or to be a broadcaster.
• When you provide information through our media personnel via email, telephone, social media or other events.
• When schools volunteer the names of individuals for our Outreach programme.
• When entering into a financial transaction with the Commission

Why do we share your data?

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica exclusively owns the information we collect and will only be shared with third-party organisations when there is a legitimate need to do so.

With that said, there are several cases where we may have a legitimate business need to share our data subjects' personal data with regulatory bodies, public authorities, and third-party processors. These would include:

• For relevant auditing and tax purposes, 
• For archiving purposes
• After the conducting of investigations into complaints received and the revision of queries and license applications, information is shared with regulatory bodies and auditors.
• To conduct litigations on the Commission’s behalf
•  

After the evaluation of licence application, relevant information is shared with auditors and regulatory authority. 

Where We Process Your Data

If you are visiting our website (https://www.bcj.gov.jm) from outside of Jamaica, be aware you are sending personal information to our servers located in Jamaica. 

Under certain circumstances, your personal data that we collect may be transferred to other countries for various purposes outlined below.

• External Consultant Service for research analysis.
• Cloud-based providers, during the communication process for contract preparation. 

If we transfer your personal data outside of Jamaica, we commit to ensuring that adequate safeguards are in place, to ensure the required protection of your information. 

  How Long Do We Store Your Data

Your personal data will ordinarily be retained for the duration necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, after which digital files are erased from all systems and physical files are destroyed. Personal data may, however, be retained for longer periods if it is solely for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes, or statistical purposes.

  How We Protect Your Data

The Commission is committed to keeping your personal data safe and secure and our security safeguards include:

• Information Security to keep your data secure and prevent unauthorised access and modification of your data. 
• Physical Security of equipment within our premises. 
• Website security displayed by closed lock icon at the top of their browsers or “https” at the beginning of the web address.
• Established procedures to prevent, handle and recover from any potential breaches. 

 Use of Cookies

The Commission does not employ cookies for direct tracking purposes. 

 External Links

On our website, you may encounter links to other websites. Be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these other sites. The Commission assumes no liability for any loss which may result from use of any of the hyperlinks provided. We encourage all users to read the privacy notices of any other sites that collect your personal data.

 Changes to This Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice may be updated periodically. Please check the date of the last revision to ensure you have the latest information. This privacy notice was last updated on 02/27/2026. 

Any changes to this privacy notice can be found on our website at https://www.bcj.gov.jm