News, blogs and speeches

Work on updating the ICO’s Journalism code continues

07 May 2021, Blog

A blog by Anulka Clarke, Acting Director of Regulatory Assurance.

Five things we learned from DPPC 2021

06 May 2021, News

The ICO’s Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2021 was held this week, bringing together more than 3,000 data protection professionals from across the country. Here are five headlines from the day.

Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2021

05 May 2021, Speech

Elizabeth Denham’s speech at the Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference on 5 May 2021.

Digital Regulatory Cooperation Forum’s response to DCMS on the future of the digital regulatory landscape

04 May 2021, Statement

The Digital Regulatory Cooperation Forum (DRCF) has submitted its response to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the future of the digital regulatory landscape and how…

Free advisory check-ups help small businesses make the best use of their data

30 April 2021, Blog

The information you hold about your customers is one of your biggest assets. But if you want to make the best use of it, you need to understand your data protection responsibilities.

Data protection is an enabler for trust and confidence in the implementation of digital identity systems

22 April 2021, Blog

Digital identity systems have started to come of age, driven by the opportunities and challenges of the digital economy and public services.

How the ICO Innovation Hub is enabling innovation and economic growth through cross-regulatory collaboration

20 April 2021, Blog

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed work for so many of us around the world; forcing innovation and new ways of working. And that’s just as true for regulators – we’ve had to adapt to develop new ways to support organisations.

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.

Elizabeth Denham's term as Information Commissioner extended

25 January 2021, Statement

An ICO spokesperson said: “Following a request from the Secretary of State for DCMS, Elizabeth Denham has agreed to extend her term as Information Commissioner to 31 October 2021, while the recruitment process for her successor is completed.

Information Commissioner looks ahead to 2021

25 January 2021, Blog

While January is always a month for looking ahead, it feels like no discussions of plans for 2021, professionally or personally, are possible without the mention of lockdown, vaccinations or talk of when ‘all this is finished’.

Maintaining data flows for a digital world

22 January 2021, Blog

Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham looks at the data protection aspects of the recently agreed UK-EU trade agreement.

Adtech investigation resumes

22 January 2021, Statement

Statement from Simon McDougall, ICO Deputy Commissioner, on the ICO's investigation into the adtech industry.

ICO supports innovative data sharing projects to protect vulnerable people

21 January 2021, News

The ICO Sandbox has selected three innovative data sharing services aimed at helping those who are vulnerable to online gambling harms, supporting ex-service men and women get the care they need, and a platform to help fight against cyber-criminals.

ICO and National Privacy Commission, Philippines, sign Memorandum of Understanding

13 January 2021, Statement

UK Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, and her counterpart in the Philippines, Commissioner and Chairman Raymund Enriquez Liboro (NPC), have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Motor industry employee sentenced in ICO Computer Misuse Act prosecution

08 January 2021, News

A motor industry employee has been sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, in a prosecution brought by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

ICO statement in response to UK Government’s announcement on the extended period for personal data flows, that will allow time to complete the adequacy process

28 December 2020, Statement

The Government has announced that the Treaty agreed with the EU will allow personal data to flow freely from the EU (and EEA) to the UK, until adequacy decisions have been adopted, for no more…

Update to the joint statement on global privacy expectations of video teleconferencing companies

23 December 2020, Statement

On 21 July 2020 the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and five other data protection and privacy regulators from around the world jointly signed an open letter to companies providing video teleconferencing services.

UK organisations using SolarWinds Orion platform should check whether personal data has been affected