About the ICO/ News and events/ News and blogs News, blogs and speeches 237 in total ICO fines facial recognition database company Clearview AI Inc more than £7.5m and orders UK data to be deleted 23 May 2022, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined Clearview AI Inc £7,552,800 for using images of people in the UK, and elsewhere, that were collected from the web and social media to create a global online database that could be used for facial recognition. Doing more with less – working with the FOI community 20 May 2022, Blog This is the second in a series of updates from Warren Seddon, Director of FOI and Transparency. His blog posts provide a regular update on our FOI work and share key learnings to help practitioners and the wider FOI community understand our developing thinking and carry out their roles. What does equality of access really mean when developing a career with a visual impairment? 19 May 2022, Blog On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Paul Arnold, ICO Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer shares his story. A day in the life of the ICO’s information management team 12 May 2022, Blog “ It’s important to remember the people behind the information.” – A day in the life of the ICO’s information management team. ICO's work in the media - Reflecting on a year of regulator collaboration in the DRCF 29 April 2022, Blog We are not the only regulator with an interest in the digital world - the CMA, Ofcom and FCA also have a role to play. We work together as the Digital Regulator Cooperation Forum (DRCF) to coordinate our regulation of the digital world more efficiently and achieve better outcomes for consumers. ICO's work in the media - ICO response to Channel 4 ‘Inside the Metaverse’ documentary 27 April 2022, Blog A recent C4 Dispatches - Inside the Metaverse looked at the metaverse and how the platforms enforce against users that act inappropriately. ICO's work in the media - Google revises its approach to cookies consent 14 April 2022, Blog Google is giving consumers more choice and control over how their data is tracked. Statement following conclusion of ICO investigation into unauthorised disclosure of CCTV footage from DHSC 13 April 2022, Statement The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found insufficient evidence to prosecute two people suspected of unlawfully obtaining and disclosing CCTV footage from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). ICO's work in the media - Children's privacy and international collaboration 11 April 2022, Blog John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner, is in Washington DC this week to meet with regulators, civil society, lawmakers and tech companies, as well as present the work of the ICO at the IAPP Global Privacy Summit. Why protecting children online in UK living rooms starts 5,000 miles away 11 April 2022, Blog “Share your data if you’re looking for a wee stalker”. That was the response by a child from Edinburgh when asked about sharing too much personal information online. ICO's work in the media - Statement in response to openDemocracy's letter 07 April 2022, Blog openDemocracy has issued an open letter about the Freedom of Information Act. This was picked up by The Guardian, The Daily Mail and Hold the Front Page. This is our response. ICO's work in the media - John Edwards article in Civil Service World 05 April 2022, Blog Civil Service World have published an article by John Edwards, in which he discusses what he’s learned so far from his listening tour, and offers reassurance about the service that the ICO is looking to give to people and businesses. ICO fines company for sending thousands of spam text messages during the pandemic 31 March 2022, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined H&L Business Consulting Ltd £80,000 for sending hundreds of thousands of text messages to people who had not consented to receive them. IAPP Data Protection Intensive: UK 24 March 2022, Speech John Edwards delivers his first speech as Information Commissioner. Director's Update - Why Covid-19 has shown the FOI Act has never been more important to UK society 22 March 2022, Blog The past two years have highlighted how transparency and accountability are fundamental to our democracy - the impact of decisions made by public bodies throughout the pandemic have affected us all in some way. ICO takes action against companies over predatory marketing calls targeting elderly, vulnerable people 15 March 2022, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) today announced fines totalling £405,000 to five companies responsible for over 750,000 unwanted marketing calls targeted at older, vulnerable people. ICO's work in the media - John Edwards' Letter to the Editor, Financial Times 11 March 2022, Blog The FT has printed the following letter from John Edwards. ICO reprimands Scottish Government over need to be upfront about NHS Scotland COVID Status app’s use of people’s details 25 February 2022, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a reprimand to the Scottish Government and NHS National Services Scotland over both organisations failure to provide people with clear information about how their personal information - including sensitive health data – is being used by the NHS Scotland COVID Status app. ICO's work in the media - John Edwards talks to the Telegraph 23 February 2022, Blog John Edwards was interviewed by the Telegraph about the opportunities for data regulation in the UK post-Brexit, while maintaining high standards of data protection. One month to go: have your say on how the ICO uses its powers to investigate, regulate and enforce 18 February 2022, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is seeking the views of stakeholders and the public on how it regulates the laws it monitors and enforces. ICO statement on California's plans to introduce new bill to protect children’s data online 17 February 2022, Statement ICO statement on California's plans to introduce new bill to protect children’s data online. ICO statement on the Google Privacy Sandbox 11 February 2022, Statement Statement in response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s announcement that it has accepted a revised offer from Google of commitments relating to its proposed removal of third-party cookies from the Chrome browser (known as the Privacy Sandbox proposals). ICO's work in the media - John Edwards talks to Big Issue North 08 February 2022, Blog John Edwards is profiled in the latest edition of the Big Issue North, discussing the importance of privacy and freedom of information. Respect and healthy relationships online – how the Children’s code can help 08 February 2022, Blog The theme of this year’s Safer Internet Day is respect and healthy relationships online. Dirwy o £200,000 i gwmni Cymreig am wneud galwadau marchnata niwsans 02 February 2022, News Mae Swyddfa’r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth (ICO) wedi rhoi dirwy o £200,000 i gwmni gwella cartrefi am wneud mwy na hanner miliwn o alwadau marchnata digroeso. Welsh company fined £200,000 for making nuisance marketing calls 02 February 2022, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined a home improvement firm £200,000 for making more than half a million unsolicited marketing calls. ICO consults health organisations to shape thinking on privacy-enhancing technologies 02 February 2022, News The ICO is inviting organisations in the health sector to participate in workshops on privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs). International data transfer agreement and addendum and transitional provisions laid before Parliament 02 February 2022, Statement ICO statement in response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) laying the International data transfer agreement (IDTA), the International data transfer addendum to the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses (Addendum) and a document setting out transitional provisions as to the use of the current standard data protection clauses for international transfers before Parliament on 28 January 2022. Statement on an agreement reached between Somerset Bridge Insurance Services Limited and the ICO 01 February 2022, Statement In February 2019, the Information Commissioner imposed a monetary penalty notice against Somerset Bridge Insurance Services Limited (formerly, and at the relevant time, Eldon Insurance Services Limited) in the sum of £60,000 for a breach of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. Your views matter: Information Commissioner to conduct major listening exercise 28 January 2022, News Newly appointed Information Commissioner John Edwards has announced a major listening exercise to hear direct from businesses, organisations and people about their experiences of working with the ICO. New UK Information Commissioner begins term 04 January 2022, News John Edwards begins his new role as UK Information Commissioner today (Tuesday 4 January). ICO and NHS Test and Trace agree data protection improvements following consensual audit 21 December 2021, News, Central government The ICO has issued NHS Test and Trace with recommendations to strengthen the protection of people’s personal data, so it can continue to play a vital role in tackling the pandemic. ICO invites comments on how it uses its powers to investigate, regulate and enforce 20 December 2021, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a consultation to gather the views of stakeholders and the public on how it regulates the laws it monitors and enforces. Regulatory cooperation across borders 16 December 2021, Speech A speech by non-executive director Peter Hustinx, delivered at the Cross-Border Data Protection Network event on data protection and transnational cooperation in the post-Brexit era. Cabinet Office fined £500,000 for New Year Honours data breach 02 December 2021, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined the Cabinet Office £500,000 for disclosing postal addresses of the 2020 New Year Honours recipients online. ICO issues its largest fine to tackle illegal pension cold calls 01 December 2021, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined EB Associates Group Limited £140,000 for instigating over 107,000 illegal cold calls to people about pensions. ICO issues provisional view to fine Clearview AI Inc over £17 million 29 November 2021, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today announced its provisional intent to impose a potential fine of just over £17 million on Clearview AI Inc – a company that describes itself as the ‘World’s Largest Facial Network’. The certainty of change: regulation in a time of political and social challenges 26 November 2021, Speech Elizabeth Denham reflects on her time at the ICO, in a speech delivered to BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. ICO calls on Google and other companies to eliminate existing privacy risks posed by adtech industry 25 November 2021, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today set out clear data protection standards that companies must meet to safeguard people’s privacy online when developing new advertising technologies (adtech). Letter to 5Rights Foundation in response to the charity’s research into systemic breaches of the Age Appropriate Design Code (Children’s code) 17 November 2021, News Letter to 5Rights Foundations in response to the charity’s research into common breaches of the Age Appropriate Design Code (Children’s code) FOI blog: Government records communicated through private accounts have always been subject to FOI laws 04 November 2021, Blog The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner conclude joint investigation into Clearview AI Inc. 03 November 2021, Statement The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) opened a joint investigation into the personal information handling practices of Clearview AI Inc in July 2020. Joint statement on global privacy expectations of Video Teleconferencing companies 27 October 2021, Statement In July 2020, six data protection and privacy authorities from Australia, Canada, Gibraltar, Hong Kong SAR, China, Switzerland and the United Kingdom jointly signed an open letter to video… ICO warning after Scottish charity reveals personal data in email error 22 October 2021, News The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is urging organisations to revisit their bulk email practices after failures by HIV Scotland led to a £10,000 fine. Providing practical data protection guidance to the media sector 13 October 2021, Blog Freedom of expression and freedom of information play a vital role in our democracy. Trust in our democratic system relies on people to ask questions of public bodies who operate on their behalf, to understand and scrutinise the decisions of local and national government. ICO response to DCMS consultation “Data: a new direction” 07 October 2021, News Foreword from Elizabeth Denham CBE, UK Information Commissioner The opportunity to reflect on and review the UK data protection legal framework and regulatory regime is a welcome one. Three… Statement on mandatory vaccination and COVID status check schemes ahead of their introduction in Scotland and Wales 29 September 2021, Statement Ahead of the introduction of mandatory vaccination and COVID status checks in Scotland and Wales, the UK Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, said: Statement in response to use of ICO corporate charge card 27 September 2021, Statement An ICO spokesperson said: "An independent internal investigation, commissioned by the ICO in February, confirmed that a single payment of £6248.40 was made on an ICO corporate charge card in December 2020 for identical £24.60 gifts for 254 members of ICO staff. International progress for domestic benefit: why the ICO convened a G7 meeting on data flows 20 September 2021, Blog A blog by Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham. We Buy Any Car, Sports Direct and Saga fined £495,000 after sending millions of ‘frustrating and intrusive’ nuisance messages. 15 September 2021, News The ICO has today announced fines totalling £495,000 to well-known companies that between them sent more than 354 million nuisance messages. Loading results More