News, blogs and speeches

Tribute to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh

12 April 2021, Statement

Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner tribute to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Data Protection law can help create public trust and confidence around COVID-status certification schemes

26 March 2021, Blog

From contact tracing apps to temperature checks at airports, from businesses recording customers’ details to organisations sharing health data to help the vulnerable, it is clear that the responsible use of personal data has been vital in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Building on the data sharing code – our plans for updating our anonymisation guidance

19 March 2021, Blog

Data is the lifeblood of the digital economy, and the sharing of personal data is key to opening up new opportunities.

Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport and the Information Commissioner sign Memorandum of Understanding on data adequacy

19 March 2021, Statement

Having left the EU, the Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport now holds powers to make independent UK data adequacy arrangements with new partners around the…

ICO sandbox tackles road safety and violence reduction

18 March 2021, Blog

The use of personal data is often key to helping organisations improve how their own services can be delivered more efficiently.

Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum publishes its first annual plan of work

10 March 2021, News

The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) today outlined its priorities for the coming year, marking a step-change in coordination of regulation across digital and online services.

Supporting UK democracy through data protection with new political campaigning guidance

09 March 2021, Blog

In a year where the challenges of the pandemic have prompted digital innovation in so many aspects of our lives, it is no surprise that campaigning for the upcoming elections in England, Scotland and Wales will be a little different.

ICO fines firms for sending more than 2.7 million spam text messages during the pandemic

05 March 2021, News

Two separate companies that sent nuisance text messages during the Covid-19 pandemic have been fined a total of £330,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

From facial recognition technology to children online: regulating data protection in 2021

03 March 2021, Speech

As you have heard, I was due to deliver this lecture in person, twelve months ago.

ICO urges businesses to act now as Children’s Code comes into force in six months

02 March 2021, News

Initial findings from industry research set up by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) shows that three quarters of businesses surveyed are aware of the Children’s Code.

Guest blog: Working for a regulator like the ICO

01 March 2021, Blog

As the ICO seeks to employ a Post Doctoral Research Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the former post holder, Professor Reuben Binns, reflects on his time in the role.

Supporting you to meet your information access requests

24 February 2021, Blog

Our aim at the ICO is to ensure organisations provide the public with timely access to information. We speak regularly about supporting you to meet your requirements, and we’ve published two new products to help you achieve that goal.

ICO statement in response to the publication of a draft adequacy decision from the European Commission

19 February 2021, Statement

The European Commission has today published its draft UK adequacy decisions. If adopted these decisions will allow for continued free flow of personal data from the EU into the UK. As well as its…

ICO launches data analytics toolkit

17 February 2021, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is urging all organisations considering using data analytics on personal data to look at its new toolkit.

ICO issues fines totalling £270,000 to firms making nuisance calls

12 February 2021, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued fines totalling £270,000 to two separate companies for making unlawful marketing calls to numbers registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).

Safer Internet Day 2021

09 February 2021, Statement

Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham said: “The ICO is proud to support Safer Internet Day, which contributes to the national conversation about online privacy and trust. Children must be protected within the digital world while they learn, explore and play online.

Supporting Novartis to improve patient care during the pandemic

05 February 2021, Blog

The latest Sandbox report is from medicines company Novartis, which uses innovative science and digital technologies to help transform patient care and improve their experiences and outcomes.

ICO Technology team strengthened with new appointment

01 February 2021, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is pleased to announce that a new Director of Technology and Innovation has been appointed.

ICO launches fourth and final phase of privacy innovation grants programme

28 January 2021, News

Applications are now open for the fourth and final round of funding for the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO) current grants programme. The ICO committed to run the grants programme until 2021 and work is ongoing this year to review and report on its progress.

Ambition can raise global data protection standards to benefit us all

28 January 2021, Blog

Amid a busy start to 2021, Data Protection Day provides an opportunity to step back and reflect on the continued lifting of data protection standards around the world.

Fines totalling £480,000 issued to companies making nuisance calls

27 January 2021, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued fines totalling £480,000 to four separate companies for making unlawful calls to numbers registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).

ICO response to Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology’s (POST) on AI in healthcare

26 January 2021, Statement

An ICO spokesperson said: “The ICO contributed to the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology’s (POST) recently published research briefing (known as a POSTnote) on AI and Healthcare, on the aspects concerning privacy, data-sharing, trust and accountability in relation to personal data protection.