About the ICO News and events News, blogs and speeches 116 in total Information Commissioner sets out new priorities for UK data protection during COVID-19 and beyond 05 May 2020, Blog A blog by Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner. Combatting COVID-19 through data: some considerations for privacy 17 April 2020, Blog A blog by Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner. Video conferencing: what to watch out for 15 April 2020, Blog Ian Hulme, the ICO’s Director of Assurance gives business owners, employers and managers advice about how to safely roll out the latest video conferencing technology. Grwpiau cymunedol a COVID-19 30 March 2020, Blog Wrth i COVID-19 barhau i ysgubo ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig, mae mwy a mwy o bobl yn cael eu sbarduno i helpu'r rhai sy’n fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau. Mae grwpiau eglwysig, cymdeithasau cymdogaeth a chymdeithasau trigolion yn cael eu sefydlu i gefnogi gwaith grwpiau cymunedol, gwasanaethau ac elusennau sy'n bodoli eisoes. Community groups and COVID-19: what you need to know about data protection 26 March 2020, Blog As COVID-19 continues to sweep across the UK, more and more people are driven to help the most vulnerable in our communities. Don’t get caught out when it comes to pupil photos 09 March 2020, Blog We’ve issued two reprimands, which are legal warnings, recently to schools for wrongly disclosing the personal data of children. Combining privacy and innovation: ICO Sandbox six months on 09 March 2020, Blog It’s been an exciting, interesting and challenging first six months for the ICO Sandbox – both for those externally involved in the various projects and for the ICO staff working on the scheme. Ian Hulme discusses the progress so far. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. Blog: How coming to work at the ICO on a secondment can benefit both of us 22 October 2019, Blog We have significantly expanded our permanent workforce over the last two years but we are also keen to increase the variety and number of people who join us on temporary secondment from other organisations. Blog: Global collaboration and how it helps the UK 21 October 2019, Blog A blog by Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner. Privacy and Innovation - Lessons learnt from the FCA TechSprint 16 October 2019, Blog I’ve found there’s often a misconception that regulation seeks to stifle innovation and that the role of regulators is to add layers of red tape. Enabling access, erasure, and rectification rights in AI systems 15 October 2019, Blog Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), discusses the challenges organisations may face in implementing mechanisms in AI systems that allow data subjects to exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure Privacy attacks on AI models 12 September 2019, Blog Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Andrew Paterson, Principal Technology Adviser, discuss new security risks associated with AI, whereby the personal data of the people who the system was trained on might be revealed by the system itself. Data minimisation and privacy-preserving techniques in AI systems 21 August 2019, Blog Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy Adviser, discuss some of the techniques organisations can use to comply with data minimisation requirements when adopting AI systems. Blog: Three top issues for town and parish councils 14 August 2019, Blog The advent of the GDPR in May 2018 brought new data protection obligations for many organisations. Some of this presented a challenge, particularly for smaller organisations like parish and town councils, who we saw were keen to demonstrate their compliance but needed support to achieve this. Protecting children online: update on progress of ICO code 07 August 2019, Blog In April, I blogged about the ICO’s work to help protect children online. I’m pleased to report that my team and I are making good progress on producing a code that will translate General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements into design standards for online services. Fully automated decision making AI systems (blogger post) 05 August 2019, Blog Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy Adviser, discuss some of the key safeguards organisations should implement when using solely automated AI systems to make decisions with significant impacts on data subjects. People care more about how their personal data is used. But what aspects cause them most concern? 31 July 2019, Blog Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham introduces our Annual Track 2019 report. AI Auditing Framework blog: Trade-offs 25 July 2019, Blog Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy adviser, discuss how using AI can require trade-offs between data protection principles, and what organisations can do to assess and balance them. Blog: Live facial recognition technology - data protection law applies 09 July 2019, Blog Any organisation using software that can recognise a face amongst a crowd then scan large databases of people to check for a match in a matter of seconds, is processing personal data. Blog: Developing the ICO AI Auditing Framework: an update 04 July 2019, Blog Simon McDougall, Executive Director for Technology and Innovation reflects on the progress made in developing the ICO approach to auditing Artificial Intelligence (AI), and some of the broad themes emerging from the feedback received so far. Blog: Cookies – what does ‘good’ look like? 03 July 2019, Blog Since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect last May, there has been a great deal of interest in how it applies to cookies and similar technologies. Human bias and discrimination in AI systems 25 June 2019, Blog Blogger post: As part of our AI auditing framework blog series, Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy adviser, look at how AI can play a part in maintaining or amplifying human biases and discrimination. Blog: Supporting people accessing their data from the police 25 June 2019, Blog Anyone in the UK has the legal right to find out what information is held about them by organisations and ask for a copy free of charge within one calendar month. This is known as a subject access request (SAR). Blog: ICO Adtech update report published following industry engagement 20 June 2019, Blog In recent months we’ve been reviewing how personal data is used in real time bidding (RTB) in programmatic advertising, engaging with key stakeholders directly and via our fact-finding forum event to understand the views and concerns of those involved. Blog: Counting the cost of accessing environmental information 03 June 2019, Blog At the beginning of May, Parliament declared a ‘climate change emergency’ and concerns about the environment make news headlines almost every day. So it’s more important than ever that people are able to get the information they need to take part in informed debates. When it comes to explaining AI decisions, context matters 03 June 2019, Blog Blogger post: Alex Hubbard, Senior Policy Officer at the ICO, looks at some of the key themes identified in the ICO and The Alan Turing Institute’s interim report about explanations of AI decisions. GDPR - one year on 30 May 2019, Blog Last May marked a seismic shift in privacy and information rights with the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Work begins on creating ICO Sandbox short list as application period closes 28 May 2019, Blog Applications for the ICO Sandbox have now closed and we have had a fantastic response, with 64 submissions received in total. Known security risks exacerbated by AI 23 May 2019, Blog We would like to hear your views on how known security risks can be exacerbated by AI. We welcome any feedback on our current thinking. Blog: Data protection doesn’t take a day off 10 May 2019, Blog Last year we began taking action against organisations for non-payment of the data protection fee, sending out a clear message that those who didn’t pay risked a fine. Blog: Using biometric data in a fair, transparent and accountable manner 10 May 2019, Blog As technology takes ever greater strides, so organisations and businesses are harnessing its capabilities to help manage their contact with customers, including using it for means of identification and authentication. Helping us strike the right balance between journalism and data protection 29 April 2019, Blog Privacy and freedom of expression are both fundamental rights that are equally vital to our society, democracy and way of life. But they can sometimes appear to be in conflict with each other. Our data protection laws aim to reconcile these rights and achieve a crucial balance. But it is important that those organisations engaged in journalism know how to apply the requirements and exemptions in practice. Blog: Children’s privacy – new standards for online services will help protect children 12 April 2019, Blog Automated Decision Making: the role of meaningful human reviews (hosted on Blogger) 12 April 2019, Blog In the first detailed element of our AI framework blog series, Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in AI, and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy Adviser, explore how organisations can ensure ‘meaningful’ human involvement to make sure AI decisions are not classified as solely automated by mistake. Accuracy of AI system outputs and performance measures 12 April 2019, Blog Continuing our AI auditing framework blog series , Reuben Binns, our Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Valeria Gallo, Technology Policy Adviser, explore how the data protection principle of accuracy applies to AI systems, and propose some steps organisations should take to ensure compliance. Blog: Data Protection law does not prevent information sharing to save lives and stop crime 12 April 2019, Blog Steve Wood reminds public and private organisations that new data protection legislation does not stop them from disclosing personal data to assist police forces or other law enforcement authorities. Loading results More