The ICO exists to empower you through information.

News, blogs and speeches

288 in total

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.

Our statement on changes to LinkedIn AI data policy

20 September 2024, Statement

"We are pleased that LinkedIn has reflected on the concerns we raised about its approach to training generative AI models with information relating to its UK users.

Our statement in response to Meta's announcement to introduce teen accounts

17 September 2024, Statement

Stephen Almond, Executive Director Regulatory Risk said:  “We welcome Instagram’s new protections for its younger users  following our engagement with them.  Our Children's code is clear…

Guilty car salesman fined for retaining and selling data to competitors

17 September 2024, News

A man has pleaded guilty and been fined for unlawfully retaining and selling thousands of pieces of customer records from the car leasing company he worked for in Hertfordshire.

Action taken against Sky Betting and Gaming for using cookies without consent

17 September 2024, News

We have issued a reprimand to Bonne Terre Limited, trading as Sky Betting and Gaming, for unlawfully processing people’s data through advertising cookies without their consent.

ICO statement in response to Meta's announcement on user data to train AI

13 September 2024, Statement

Statement from Stephen Almond, Executive Director Regulatory Risk at the ICO.

Surrey Police show a “lack of seriousness about their obligations” as ICO issues enforcement notice over FOI failures

12 September 2024, News

Enforcement notice issued to Surrey Police over Freedom of Information backlog

ICO and NCA sign memorandum of understanding for further collaboration on cyber security

10 September 2024, News

We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Crime Agency (NCA) that sets out how both organisations will cooperate to improve the UK’s cyber resilience.

Action taken against Labour Party for failing to respond to requests for personal information on time

28 August 2024, News

We have issued a reprimand to the Labour Party for repeatedly failing to respond to people who asked it what personal information the party held on them – known as a subject access request (SAR).

New tool helps small businesses create privacy notices

20 August 2024, News

We have launched a new, quick and easy-to-use tool to help small organisations and sole traders create a bespoke privacy notice and protect people’s information rights.

ICO statement on Meta's ad-free subscription service

15 August 2024, Statement

“One of our key priorities is to ensure that people’s information rights are upheld by the online advertising industry.

Porthcawl man sentenced after “brazen” car scam worth hundreds of thousands of pounds

13 August 2024, News

A man who unlawfully accessed personal data has been sentenced after our investigation.

Provisional decision to impose £6m fine on software provider following 2022 ransomware attack that disrupted NHS and social care services

07 August 2024, Statement, Online technology and telecoms

We have provisionally decided to fine Advanced Computer Software Group Ltd (Advanced) £6.09m, following an initial finding that the provider failed to implement measures to protect the personal…

Social media and video sharing platforms put on notice over poor children’s privacy practices

02 August 2024, News

We are calling on 11 social media and video sharing platforms to improve their children’s privacy practices.

Supporting public authorities to be open and transparent

31 July 2024, Blog

Around this time last year, I wrote about our new Upstream Regulation team and our focus on supporting public authorities to be open and accountable with the public they serve.

ICO reprimands the Electoral Commission after cyber attack compromises servers

30 July 2024, News

We have issued a reprimand to the Electoral Commission after hackers gained access to servers that contained the personal information of approximately 40 million people.

ICO takes action against two organisations for "risking public trust" by failing to respond to public requests for information

29 July 2024, News

We have taken action against two trusted public services after investigations found they’d failed to meet basic information request requirements, as set out under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Essex school reprimanded after using facial recognition technology for canteen payments

23 July 2024, News

We have issued a reprimand to a school that broke the law when it introduced facial recognition technology (FRT).

ICO statement in response to Google announcing it will no longer block third party cookies in Chrome

23 July 2024, Statement

"We are disappointed that Google has changed its plans and no longer intends to deprecate third party cookies from the Chrome Browser.

London Borough of Hackney reprimanded following cyber-attack

17 July 2024, Statement, Local government

We have issued the London Borough of Hackney with a reprimand following a cyber-attack in 2020 that led to hackers gaining access to and encrypting 440,000 files, affecting at least 280,000 residents and other individuals including staff. 

Information Commissioner calls for water companies to be crystal clear with public over sewage pollution

15 July 2024, News

Water companies must put transparency first if they want to rebuild public trust, we have warned.

Sut rydyn ni’n helpu’r lluoedd heddlu i gydymffurfio gyda FOIA – a beth ni’n gwneud os nad ydyn nhw.

10 July 2024, Blog

Mae’r hawl sylfaenol i holi awdurdodau cyhoeddus a’u dwyn i gyfrif yn un o gonglfeini’n democratiaeth.

How we help police forces comply with FOIA - and what we do if they don't

10 July 2024, Blog

The fundamental right to ask questions of and hold public authorities to account is a cornerstone of our democracy.

Do I really need to read the privacy notice?

09 July 2024, News

At the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), we are encouraging people to check how an app plans to use their personal information before they sign up.