Category: ICO

Blog: Information Commissioner sets out new priorities for UK data protection during COVID-19 and beyond

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5 May 2019 A blog by Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner. Last month, as the ICO set out its regulatory approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, I spoke of the importance of regulators applying their authority within the larger social and economic situation. The document we published that day made clear what organisations can expect of us in the coming months. My office’s role is to be both an enabler and a protector. We must reflect the requirements and reality of those we regulate, and engage on how data protection can enable…

Information Commissioner and Head of Technology and Innovation appear before the Human Rights Joint Committee

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Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham and Executive Director of Technology and Innovation Simon McDougall appear before the Human Rights Joint Committee on 4 May 2020. This document was sent to the committee in advance of the session. It sets out the ICO’s expectations on how contact tracing solutions may be developed in line with the principles of data protection by design and default, and includes a series of best practice recommendations. You can view the session here at 3.30pm. Source

COVID-19 contact tracing: data protection expectations on app development

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Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham and Executive Director of Technology and Innovation Simon McDougall appear before the Human Rights Joint Committee on 4 May 2020. This document was sent to the committee in advance of the session. It sets out the ICO’s expectations on how contact tracing solutions may be developed in line with the principles of data protection by design and default, and includes a series of best practice recommendations. You can view the session here from 2.30pm. Source

Blog: Combatting COVID-19 through data: some considerations for privacy

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A blog by Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner 17 April 2020 There’s an often quoted line about knowing the past to understand the present. It came to mind this week, as I looked at the work we had been doing on contact tracing and location data in the context of COVID-19. Data protection law emerged in the UK out of a concern that the benefits of new technology could be lost if advances were not embraced by the population. Data protection law was seen as a way to support innovation by…

Blog: Video conferencing: what to watch out for

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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 The COVID-19 crisis is changing the way we live our lives. Keeping our distance means many of us are working from home for the first time and adapting to new ways of doing our jobs. Thankfully, technology is helping us all stay connected. Video conferencing software and apps are valuable ways of doing business, holding staff meetings and keeping in touch with colleagues. But with…

Blog: Grwipau cymunedol a COVID-19

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Blog gan Ian Hulme, Cyfarwyddwr Sicrwydd Rheoleiddiol yr ICO. 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. Yn aml, mae angen i’r grwpiau hyn ymdrin â gwybodaeth bersonol sensitif a’i rhannu gydag eraill. Ac mae hynny’n golygu ystyried y gyfraith ar ddiogelu data. Os…

Blog: Community groups and COVID-19: what you need to know about data protection

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A blog by Ian Hulme, Director for Regulatory Assurance at the ICO. As COVID-19 continues to sweep across the UK, more and more people are driven to help the most vulnerable in our communities. Church groups, neighbourhood and residents associations are being set up to support the work of existing community groups, services and charities. Often, these groups need to handle sensitive personal information and share it with others. And that means taking account of data protection law. If you’ve just formed a community group, this may be the first time…

Council employee fined £400 for illegally deleted audio file

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A council employee has been fined £400 for an offence under the Freedom of Information (FOI) regulations. Nicola Young, town clerk of Whitchurch Town Council, was convicted under Section 77 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of deliberately obstructing records with the intent to prevent disclosure. As part of her responsibilities as town clerk, Young was entrusted with the role of ‘proper officer’ whose responsibility it is to handle FOI requests to the council. One such request was submitted by an individual who asked for a copy of the…

US Charges Dutch National With Running Crypto-Funded Child Porn Site

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U.S. prosecutors indicated a Dutch national Thursday for allegedly spearheading a rape and child pornography website that’s made over $1.6 million worth of bitcoin selling videos since 2012. Known as “Michael R.M.,” and “Mr. Dark,” the man allegedly ran a site called “DarkScandals” that operated on the darknet, which requires special software to access, and on the public clearnet. He allegedly sold over 2,000 videos and had ties to 303 virtual currency accounts, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Bitcoin and…

UK Financial Regulator: Watch Out for Coronavirus Crypto Scams

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The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is asking investors to watch out for coronavirus-related crypto scams. In a March 11 warning to the public, FCA, the U.K’s top financial regulator, said scammers may attempt to take advantage of the fast-spiraling global pandemic, which has infected some 460 U.K. residents and killed eight. “Watch out for scams related to coronavirus (COVID-19),” the FCA wrote. “These scams take many forms and could be about insurance policies, pensions transfers or high-return investment opportunities, including investments in cryptoassets.” The warning came the same…