News, blogs and speeches

Advice to local authorities facing financial restrictions

28 November 2024, Blog

Managing request volumes and issuing timely responses to requests for information are crucial to complying with your information access obligations.

Data protection is not an excuse when tackling scams and fraud

22 November 2024, News

We are calling on organisations to share personal information responsibly to protect their customers from scams and fraud.

Our lives, our privacy: the 40 items that shaped 40 years of privacy rights

19 November 2024, News

We are marking our 40th anniversary by launching a digital exhibition telling the story of the most important moments in privacy and information rights over the past four decades.

Using Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) to unlock value from data responsibly

15 November 2024, Blog

On Thursday 7 November, DSIT’s Responsible Technology Adoption (RTA) Unit and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published the Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) Cost-Benefit Awareness Tool.

Joint statement from the FCA, ICO and TPR for retail investment firms and pension providers

15 November 2024, Statement

Data protection and effective communications to consumers in relation to retail investments and pensions.

NEW data protection code of conduct launched for UK private investigators

13 November 2024, News

We have approved and published the first sector-owned code of conduct - The Association of British Investigators Ltd (ABI) UK GDPR code of conduct for Investigative and Litigation Support Services.

“Privacy must still come first.” – we're calling for collaboration with developers as report reveals future innovations and data protection concerns in genomics

07 November 2024, News

New report highlights how genomics could one day determine insurance quotes, solve crimes, tailor support in schools and create fitness plans

Thinking of using AI to assist recruitment? Our key data protection considerations

06 November 2024, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has shared key questions organisations should ask when procuring AI tools to help with their employee recruitment.

ICO intervention into AI recruitment tools leads to better data protection for job seekers

06 November 2024, News

We have today issued a series of recommendations [LINK] to AI developers and providers to ensure they are better protecting job seekers’ information rights.

Empowering young people to learn more about their local environment

05 November 2024, Blog

Did you know that no matter how old you are, you can ask public authorities about a wide range of topics that affect your day-to-day life and where you live?

Information Commissioner seeks permission to appeal DSG Retail Ltd ruling

04 November 2024, Statement

We are seeking permission to appeal the judgment of the Upper Tribunal (Tribunal) on DSG Retail Limited (DSG) to the Court of Appeal.

Statement on ICO’s work to protect children online

29 October 2024, Statement

Children see sharing their personal information online as necessary to avoid social exclusion, our new research has found.

Global privacy authorities issue follow-up joint statement on data scraping after industry engagement

28 October 2024, News

We and several global counterparts are highlighting how social media companies can better protect personal information, as concerns grow about mass scraping of personal information within social media platforms, including to support artificial intelligence systems.

Information Commissioner: Organisations need to do more to help people affected by data breaches

28 October 2024, News

Information Commissioner John Edwards has today urged organisations across the country to recognise the real-world impact of data breaches - and the devastating effects they can have on people’s lives.

Ripple effect: the devastating impact of data breaches

28 October 2024, Blog

A blog by John Edwards, Information Commissioner.

Statement in response to the introduction of the Data Use and Access Bill in the House of Lords

24 October 2024, Statement

We welcome the introduction of the Data Use and Access Bill in the House of Lords and look forward to seeing it progress through parliament to Royal Assent.

Our statement in response to Government plans for NHS digital transformation

21 October 2024, Statement

An ICO spokesperson: "We stand ready to support the Government's ambition to make the NHS fit for the future, including the move to a more digital approach. Data protection law can help…

Action taken against United Utilities over transparency failings

16 October 2024, News

We have issued a practice recommendation to United Utilities for failing to properly handle requests for important environmental information from the public.

Two companies fined a total of £150k after bombarding people with spam texts offering financial, debt services

15 October 2024, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined two Manchester based financial and debt management companies a total of £150,000 for sending in excess of 7.5million spam text messages to people.

£120k issued in fines to two companies for predatory marketing campaigns

10 October 2024, News

We have fined two companies for making unlawful marketing calls to individuals registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).

Criminal record and suspended prison sentence handed to former RAC employees for stealing personal information

09 October 2024, News

Two former RAC employees have been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, for unlawfully copying and selling over 29,500 lines of personal information.

Changes to our services for businesses

09 October 2024, Statement

We are committed to modernising our service and investing in tools that enable us to give time-pressed businesses access to our advice and expertise 24/7.

Preparing for the quantum-enabled future

09 October 2024, Blog

Quantum technologies are advancing at pace, offering huge potential to improve our lives. For example, researchers are already using the next generation of certain quantum sensors to collect highly granular information about people’s brain patterns to improve medical research and diagnostics, while there are ongoing efforts to test real world applications for early stage quantum computers.

New data protection audit framework launched to help organisations improve compliance

07 October 2024, News

We have today launched a new audit framework designed to help organisations assess their own compliance with key requirements under data protection law. The framework empowers…

What price privacy? Poor PSNI procedures culminate in £750k fine

03 October 2024, News

We have fined Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) £750,000 for exposing the personal information of its entire workforce, leaving many fearing for their safety.