Category: ICO

Blog: ICO launches guidance on AI and data protection

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Simon McDougall, Deputy Commissioner – Regulatory Innovation and Technology, discusses the relationship between AI and data protection as the ICO publishes new AI guidance. 30 July 2020 Over the past few years, I have witnessed amazing uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in areas such as online retail, banking, and healthcare. The recent pandemic has driven innovation in the use of technology and data but some of the challenges for organisations using AI are constant. For example, Is AI the right technology for the problem? What ethical issues does it create?…

Information Commissioner updates on the ICO’s regulatory approach during COVID-19 and beyond

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14 July 2020 When the ICO set out how we would regulate during COVID-19 I wrote of the importance of regulators taking account of the larger social and economic context.  That is always the case, but it has been especially important that my office adjust our regulatory approach to reflect these extraordinary times. The pandemic has brought real pressures for organisations and individuals, and it is right that we have responded pragmatically and empathetically. The ICO has kept our regulatory approach under review over the past few months. This takes…

Commissioner comment on Lord’s Committee digital technology report

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ICO statement following the Lord’s Committee on Democracy and Digital Technology’s report ‘Digital Technology and the Resurrection of Trust’. Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner, said: “The report Lord Puttnam and his committee have published is a welcome contribution to important conversations around the role digital technology has in all of our lives. “In particular, I am pleased to see an acknowledgment of how integral personal data is in this debate. Data can shape the posts and messages we see and the political advertisements we are shown. Any discussion of online harms…

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office open joint investigation into Clearview AI Inc.

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The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have opened a joint investigation into the personal information handling practices of Clearview AI Inc., focusing on the company’s use of ‘scraped’ data and biometrics of individuals. The investigation highlights the importance of enforcement cooperation in protecting the personal information of Australian and UK citizens in a globalised data environment. In line with the OAIC’s Privacy Regulatory Action Policy, and the ICO’s Communicating our Regulatory and Enforcement Activity Policy, no further comment will be made…

UK regulators join forces to ensure online services work well for consumers and businesses

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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Ofcom have set up a new forum to help ensure online services work well for consumers and businesses in the UK. The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum strengthens existing collaboration and coordination between the three regulators. It aims to harness their collective expertise when data, privacy, competition, communications and content interact. With the unique challenges posed by digital markets and services, and an evolving landscape as the EU transition arrangements end, regulatory cooperation has never been so important. The regulators…

ICO statement on the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study

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Simon McDougall, Executive Director for Technology and Innovation, said: “As data becomes ever more central to business models, the interaction between data protection and competition regulation increases. The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Market Study highlights the cross regulatory issues that arise in today’s digital landscape. We have welcomed the chance to contribute to this important work. “Giving people control over what happens to their personal data is central to data protection law in the UK and is also a vital element of consumer protection. Our joint engagement will bring…

ICO releases findings on the use of mobile phone extraction by police forces

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The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has released an investigation report into the use of mobile phone extraction (MPE) by police forces when conducting criminal investigations in England and Wales. When concerns arose about the potential for excessive processing of personal data extracted from mobile phones, the ICO launched an investigation to understand the privacy and data protection risks. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said: “Many of our laws were enacted before the phone technology that we use today was even thought about. The existing laws that apply in this area…

Age Appropriate Design Code is laid before Parliament

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ICO statement in response to the Government laying the Age Appropriate Design Code, also known as the Children’s Code, before Parliament. “We welcome the news that Government has laid the Age Appropriate Design Code before Parliament. It’s a huge step towards protecting children online especially given the increased reliance on online services at home during COVID-19. “The code sets out 15 standards that relevant online services should meet to protect children’s privacy and is the result of wide-ranging consultation and engagement with stakeholders including the tech industry, campaigners,…

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