News, blogs and speeches

Consent is not the 'silver bullet' for GDPR compliance

16 August 2017, Blog

In the second of a series of blogs, the Information Commissioner separates fact from fiction regarding GDPR and consent.

ICO warns NHS employees that unlawfully accessing patient records is an offence

11 August 2017, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has reminded NHS staff about the potentially serious consequences of prying into patients’ medical records without a valid reason.

Personal data belonging to up to 21,000 TalkTalk customers could have been used for scams and fraud

10 August 2017, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC £100,000 after it failed to look after its customers’ data and risked it falling into the hands of scammers and fraudsters.

GDPR - sorting the fact from the fiction

09 August 2017, Blog

The Information Commissioner separates fact from fiction regarding GDPR and financial penalties.

Trust, Transparency and Progressive Information Rights take centre stage at conference

04 August 2017, News

The Scottish and UK Information Commissioners have joined forces to co-host an international conference exploring the future of transparency and access to information in the UK and worldwide.

ICO issues nuisance calls warning as two firms from same city are fined

03 August 2017, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office has reminded companies making direct marketing calls that people registered with the Telephone Preference Service are “off limits”.

Information Commissioner encourages disclosure of fire safety information in light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy

02 August 2017, Blog

Elizabeth Denham publishes blog on the availability of fire safety information.

ICO Grants Programme attracts more than 100 applications

31 July 2017, Statement

The ICO’s first ever funding scheme for external research into data protection and information rights has proved a huge success. The ICO Grants Programme call for proposals is now officially…

ICO warns workers about illegally sharing other people’s personal information

21 July 2017, News

The ICO has warned employees about the potential consequences of illegally sharing personal data that they have access to as part of their job.

Moneysupermarket fined for ignoring customers’ marketing email opt-outs

20 July 2017, News

Price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com Ltd has been fined £80,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office for sending millions of emails to customers who had made it clear they didn’t want to be contacted in that way.

Loan firm responsible for nearly a million nuisance text messages is fined

17 July 2017, News

A credit company responsible for sending nearly one million nuisance texts in six months has been fined £80,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

ICO’s Annual Report for 2016/17 highlights a year of achievements and future challenges

13 July 2017, News

Elizabeth Denham has published her first annual report as the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner.

Statement in response to new Snapchat location feature

12 July 2017, Statement

Statement from ICO regarding Snap Maps, a new location feature available through Snapchat.

When is a breach not a breach?

12 July 2017, Blog

Subject access policy updated after court rulings on disproportionate effort

05 July 2017, Blog

The ICO's Vivienne Adams provides details of recent updates to policies and guidance.

Promoting privacy with innovation within the law

04 July 2017, Speech

Elizabeth Denham's speech at the 30th annual conference of Privacy Laws and Business, Cambridge, on 4 July 2017.

ICO publishes International Strategy to help protect UK public’s personal information in a global environment

04 July 2017, News

The ICO has published its first ever International Strategy to help it meet overseas data protection challenges including increased globalism, changing technology, GDPR and Brexit.

Four lessons NHS Trusts can learn from the Royal Free case

03 July 2017, Blog

Elizabeth Denham expands on lessons to learn from the Royal Free case.

Royal Free - Google DeepMind trial failed to comply with data protection law

03 July 2017, News

The ICO has ruled the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust failed to comply with the Data Protection Act when it provided patient details to Google DeepMind.

Warning to SMEs as firm hit by cyber attack fined £60,000

27 June 2017, News

Small and medium sized businesses are being warned to take note as a company which suffered a cyber attack is fined £60,000 by the ICO.

ICO statement on Conservative Party call centre

23 June 2017, Statement

The ICO released a statement to Channel Four News after the news programme carried out an undercover investigation into a call centre used by the Conservative Party during the election campaign.

Maidstone firm responsible for nuisance calls fined £50,000

22 June 2017, News

The ICO has issued a £50,000 fine to MyHome Installations Ltd for pursuing people who had specifically opted out of telephone marketing.

ICO extends global reach by hosting three international events this week

19 June 2017, News

The influence of the ICO among global information rights regulators will be demonstrated this week as the UK body hosts three international events in four days.

The ICO Grants Programme and why the time is right to support independent research

16 June 2017, Blog

While the school year may be nearing its end and university students are already returning home for the summer, we at the ICO have launched our first ever Grants Programme for new, independent research into data protection and privacy enhancing solutions, and we believe it is a genuinely exciting development.

Morrisons supermarket chain fined for flouting customers’ marketing wishes

16 June 2017, News, Retail and manufacture

A national supermarket chain has been fined for breaking the law on how people’s personal information should be treated when sending marketing emails.

ICO Deputy Commissioners appointed

13 June 2017, News

The Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham is pleased to announce the appointment of two new deputy commissioners.

Gloucester City Council fined by ICO for leaving personal information vulnerable to attack

12 June 2017, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined Gloucester City Council £100,000 after a cyber attacker accessed council employees’ sensitive personal information.

Former claims company manager fined £2,000 over blagging calls to obtain personal data

09 June 2017, News

A former claims company manager has been prosecuted for leading a team involved in ‘blagging’ calls to illegally obtain personal data.

More raids during investigation into accident claims calls

09 June 2017, News

Homes in the North West have been searched as part of an extensive ongoing investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

National Police Chiefs' Council Information Practitioner event

07 June 2017, Speech

Original script may differ from delivered version Elizabeth Denham talks data protection and policing at the NPCC Information Practitioner event, in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Good…

ICO launches Grants Programme to promote data protection and privacy research

06 June 2017, News

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a Grants Programme to promote and support independent, innovative research and solutions focused on privacy and data protection issues.

Essex local authority fined for publishing sensitive personal data in online planning documents

31 May 2017, News, Local government

A council has been fined £150,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for publishing sensitive personal information about a family. Basildon Borough Council breached the Data…

Will GDPR Change the World? event

25 May 2017, Speech

Rob Luke's keynote speech at the TechUK event 'Will GDPR Change the World?' in London, Thursday 25 May 2017.

Businesses warned to prepare with one year until data protection law change

25 May 2017, News

Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham has today told businesses there’s no time to delay in preparing for “the biggest change to data protection law for a generation”.

Interesting times, and how we navigate them

25 May 2017, Blog

Elizabeth Denham blogs on the launch of the ICO’s Information Rights Strategic Plan

The Information Commissioner opens a formal investigation into the use of data analytics for political purposes

17 May 2017, Blog

In March we announced we were conducting an assessment of the data protection risks arising from the use of data analytics, including for political purposes.

Radcliffe used-car dealer fined £40,000 for sending 336,000 spam texts

17 May 2017, News

A Greater Manchester used-car dealer that sent hundreds of thousands of spam texts has been fined £40,000.

Firm fined for nuisance calls to people registered with the Telephone Preference Service