News, blogs and speeches

ICO statement in response to an announcement made by the Metropolitan Police Service on the use of live facial recognition

24 January 2020, Statement

In October 2019 we concluded our investigation into how police use live facial recognition technology (LFR) in public places. Our investigation found there was public support for police use of LFR but also that there needed to be improvements in how police authorised and deployed the technology if it was to retain public confidence and address privacy concerns. We set out our views in a formal Opinion for police forces.

ICO attends the second ICIC FOI case handling workshop

23 January 2020, Blog

Hosted by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, the annual workshop provides an opportunity for different jurisdictions across the globe to share working practices and ideas. ICO colleagues in attendance provide an overview of the event.

ICO publishes Code of Practice to protect children’s privacy online

21 January 2020, News

Today the Information Commissioner’s Office has published its final Age Appropriate Design Code – a set of 15 standards that online services should meet to protect children’s privacy.

ICO yn cyhoeddi Cod Ymarfer i ddiogelu preifatrwydd plant ar-lein

21 January 2020, News

Heddiw, mae Swyddfa'r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth wedi cyhoeddi ei Chod Dylunio Oed-briodol – sef set o 15 o safonau y dylai gwasanaethau ar-lein eu bodloni i ddiogelu preifatrwydd plant.

Blog: Adtech - the reform of real time bidding has started and will continue

17 January 2020, Blog

The adtech real time bidding (RTB) industry is complex, involving thousands of companies in the UK alone.

National retailer fined half a million pounds for failing to secure information of at least 14 million people

09 January 2020, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined DSG Retail Limited (DSG) £500,000 after a ‘point of sale’ computer system was compromised as a result of a cyber-attack, affecting at least 14 million people.

ICO launches consultation on draft direct marketing code of practice

08 January 2020, Statement

ICO launches consultation on draft direct marketing code of practice

Blog: The benefits of sharing personal data – what can we learn from Open Banking?

06 January 2020, Blog

The ICO’s Regulators’ Business Innovation Privacy Hub has recently been looking at the key data protection considerations for innovators who are working in the Open Banking space.

Trust, technology and slippers with torches

23 December 2019, Blog

Much has changed since Jonathan Bamford, (former) Director of Strategic Policy (Domestic Policy), joined the Information Commissioner’s Office, but as he comes to retire, he reflects on 34 years in data protection.

Statement on ICO-approved certification schemes

20 December 2019, Statement

The ICO has announced it will be working with UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) to deliver the ICO-approved certification schemes. The ICO will approve and publish the certification schemes and,…

Adtech and the data protection debate – where next?

20 December 2019, Blog

Six months ago we issued our Adtech Update Report with a clear message to industry that they had six months to read, internalise and act upon our report. Our view from the outset was that this is an industry problem requiring an industry solution. We have just reached the end of that six month period and are reviewing our findings.

The Data Protection Fee: does your company need to pay?

03 December 2019, Blog

We have launched a campaign to contact all registered companies in the UK reminding them of their legal responsibility to pay a data protection fee.

ICO and The Alan Turing Institute open consultation on first piece of AI guidance

02 December 2019, Blog

What do we really understand about how decisions are made about us using artificial intelligence (AI)? The potential for AI is huge, but its implementation is often complex, which makes it difficult for people to understand how it works. And when people don’t understand a technology, it can lead to doubt, uncertainty and mistrust.

ICO Deputy Commissioner appointed OECD working party chair

27 November 2019, News

The ICO’s Steve Wood has been appointed as chair of the OECD’s Working Party on Data Governance and Privacy.

ICO submits Age Appropriate Design Code of Practice to government

22 November 2019, News

The Information Commissioner has today (Friday 22 November) submitted the final version of the Age Appropriate Design Code of Practice to the Secretary of State in accordance with the statutory deadline.

Blog: Data ethics and the digital economy

18 November 2019, Blog

We’ve just appointed our first data ethics adviser, Ellis Parry, to consider data protection and ethics challenges over the next year.

Why special category personal data needs to be handled even more carefully

14 November 2019, Blog

Imagine if your medical records, information about your sex life or your political opinions were put into the public domain so anyone could see them. When personal data is shared by mistake the effects can be extremely damaging.

Information rights blog: Access to Information in Turbulent Times

13 November 2019, Blog

This is the first in a series of blog posts covering our regulation of access to information legislation. The first post is by Gill Bull, ICO’s Director of Freedom of Information Complaints and Compliance, who delivered the 2019 Bond Lecture at the British Records Association on 13 November 2019.

Bond Lecture 2019: ‘Access to Information in Turbulent Times’

13 November 2019, Speech

Gill Bull, ICO’s Director of Freedom of Information Complaints and Compliance, speech at the British Records Association in London, 13 November 2019.

Information Commissioner reminds political parties they must comply with the law ahead of General Election

05 November 2019, Statement

The Information Commissioner has sent the following letter to the political parties in relation to the use of data in political campaigning

Live facial recognition technology – police forces need to slow down and justify its use

31 October 2019, Blog

As far back as Sir Robert Peel, the powers of the police have always been seen as dependent on public support of their actions. It’s an ideal starting point as we consider uses of technology like live facial recognition (LFR).

Statement on an agreement reached between Facebook and the ICO

30 October 2019, Statement

In 2017 the Information Commissioner's Office ("ICO") commenced a formal investigation into the misuse of personal data in political campaigns.

AI Auditing Framework Call for Input: final considerations and next steps

28 October 2019, Blog

As the initial Call for Input into the development of the ICO AI Auditing Framework comes to an end, Simon McDougall, Executive Director for Technology and Innovation, reflects on some of the overarching themes that have emerged in the first phase of our work.

Blog: Embedding accountability – we want to hear from you

28 October 2019, Blog

A blog by Ian Hulme, Director for Regulatory Assurance.

Data Protection Impact Assessments and AI

23 October 2019, Blog

Simon Reader, Senior Policy Officer, discusses some of the key considerations for organisations undertaking data protection impact assessments for Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems.