Tag: ICO

New guidance on direct marketing and the public sector from ICO

Stuart Mitchell

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published a new resource to help public sector organisations understand when the direct marketing rules will apply to their messages. The guidance is aimed at those responsible for data protection within public sector organisations. Direct marketing is broad and covers all types of advertising or marketing that is directed at individuals. It involves any type of communication including emails, text messages, direct messaging on social media and more traditional methods such as phone calls and post. It includes commercial marketing (eg the promotion of…

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New toolkit launched to help organisations using AI to process personal data understand the associated risks and ways of complying with data protection law

Stuart Mitchell

Alister Pearson, the ICO’s Senior Policy Officer – Technology has put out a blog on their website which introduces a new beta version of their AI and Data Protection Risk Toolkit. He explains how it can assure organisations that use AI to process personal data that they are processing it in line with the law and how organisations can help the ICO shape a final version. “Understanding how to assess compliance with data protection principles can be challenging in the context of AI. From the exacerbated, and sometimes novel, security…

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ICO publishes annual tracking research

Stuart Mitchell

77% of people say protecting their personal information is essential, research commissioned by the ICO has found. The survey of over 2,000 individuals monitors changes in what people think about data protection and freedom of information, and how they utilise their information rights. This has been especially important during the pandemic where the public and organisations have had to quickly adapt their daily lives and businesses. The survey, carried out by Harris Interactive, also shows levels of trust and confidence in how companies and organisations store and use personal information…

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ICO fines firms for sending more than 2.7 million spam text messages during the pandemic

Stuart Mitchell

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). Messages from one of the firms prompted a record 10,000 complaints. Leads Works Ltd The ICO has fined West Sussex-based Leads Works Ltd £250,000 for sending more than 2.6 million nuisance text messages to customers without their valid consent. The messages, sent between 16 May and 26 June 2020, resulted in over 10,000 complaints. Andy Curry, ICO Head of Investigations, said: “The number of complaints we’ve…

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ICO publishes new Data Sharing Code of Practice

Stuart Mitchell

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published its Data Sharing Code of Practice. The code, and a suite of new resources, provides practical advice to businesses and organisations on how to carry out responsible data sharing. Data sharing is central to digital innovation in both the private and public sectors. It can lead to many economic and social benefits, including greater growth, technological innovations, and the delivery of more efficient and targeted services. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said the COVID-19 pandemic brought the need for fair, transparent and secure data…

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