News
2024-11-19 - ICO News Our lives, our privacy: the 40 items that shaped 40 years of privacy rights
We are marking our 40th anniversary by launching a digital exhibition telling the story of the most important moments in privacy and information rights over the past four decades.
2024-11-13 - ICO News NEW data protection code of conduct launched for UK private investigators
We have approved and published the first sector-owned code of conduct - The Association of British Investigators Ltd (ABI) UK GDPR code of conduct for Investigative and Litigation Support Services.
2024-11-07 - ICO News “Privacy must still come first.” – we're calling for collaboration with developers as report reveals future innovations and data protection concerns in genomics
New report highlights how genomics could one day determine insurance quotes, solve crimes, tailor support in schools and create fitness plans
2024-11-06 - ICO News ICO intervention into AI recruitment tools leads to better data protection for job seekers
We have today issued a series of recommendations [LINK] to AI developers and providers to ensure they are better protecting job seekers’ information rights.
2024-11-06 - ICO News Thinking of using AI to assist recruitment? Our key data protection considerations
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has shared key questions organisations should ask when procuring AI tools to help with their employee recruitment.
2024-10-28 - ICO News Information Commissioner: Organisations need to do more to help people affected by data breaches
Information Commissioner John Edwards has today urged organisations across the country to recognise the real-world impact of data breaches - and the devastating effects they can have on people’s lives.
2024-10-28 - ICO News Global privacy authorities issue follow-up joint statement on data scraping after industry engagement
We and several global counterparts are highlighting how social media companies can better protect personal information, as concerns grow about mass scraping of personal information within social media platforms, including to support artificial intelligence systems.
2024-10-16 - ICO News Action taken against United Utilities over transparency failings
We have issued a practice recommendation to United Utilities for failing to properly handle requests for important environmental information from the public.
2024-10-15 - ICO News Two companies fined a total of £150k after bombarding people with spam texts offering financial, debt services
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined two Manchester based financial and debt management companies a total of £150,000 for sending in excess of 7.5million spam text messages to people.
2024-10-10 - ICO News £120k issued in fines to two companies for predatory marketing campaigns
We have fined two companies for making unlawful marketing calls to individuals registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).
2024-10-09 - ICO News Criminal record and suspended prison sentence handed to former RAC employees for stealing personal information
Two former RAC employees have been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, for unlawfully copying and selling over 29,500 lines of personal information.
2024-10-07 - ICO News New data protection audit framework launched to help organisations improve compliance
We have today launched a new audit framework designed to help organisations assess their own compliance with key requirements under data protection law.
The framework empowers…
2024-10-03 - ICO News What price privacy? Poor PSNI procedures culminate in £750k fine
We have fined Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) £750,000 for exposing the personal information of its entire workforce, leaving many fearing for their safety.
2024-09-17 - ICO News Guilty car salesman fined for retaining and selling data to competitors
A man has pleaded guilty and been fined for unlawfully retaining and selling thousands of pieces of customer records from the car leasing company he worked for in Hertfordshire.
2024-09-17 - ICO News Action taken against Sky Betting and Gaming for using cookies without consent
We have issued a reprimand to Bonne Terre Limited, trading as Sky Betting and Gaming, for unlawfully processing people’s data through advertising cookies without their consent.
2024-09-12 - ICO News Surrey Police show a “lack of seriousness about their obligations” as ICO issues enforcement notice over FOI failures
Enforcement notice issued to Surrey Police over Freedom of Information backlog
2024-09-10 - ICO News ICO and NCA sign memorandum of understanding for further collaboration on cyber security
We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Crime Agency (NCA) that sets out how both organisations will cooperate to improve the UK’s cyber resilience.
2024-08-28 - ICO News Action taken against Labour Party for failing to respond to requests for personal information on time
We have issued a reprimand to the Labour Party for repeatedly failing to respond to people who asked it what personal information the party held on them – known as a subject access request (SAR).
2024-08-20 - ICO News New tool helps small businesses create privacy notices
We have launched a new, quick and easy-to-use tool to help small organisations and sole traders create a bespoke privacy notice and protect people’s information rights.
2024-08-13 - ICO News Porthcawl man sentenced after “brazen” car scam worth hundreds of thousands of pounds
A man who unlawfully accessed personal data has been sentenced after our investigation.
2024-08-02 - ICO News Social media and video sharing platforms put on notice over poor children’s privacy practices
We are calling on 11 social media and video sharing platforms to improve their children’s privacy practices.
2024-07-30 - ICO News ICO reprimands the Electoral Commission after cyber attack compromises servers
We have issued a reprimand to the Electoral Commission after hackers gained access to servers that contained the personal information of approximately 40 million people.
2024-07-26 - ICO News ICO takes action against two organisations for "risking public trust" by failing to respond to public requests for information
We have taken action against two trusted public services after investigations found they’d failed to meet basic information request requirements, as set out under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
2024-07-23 - ICO News Essex school reprimanded after using facial recognition technology for canteen payments
We have issued a reprimand to a school that broke the law when it introduced facial recognition technology (FRT).
2024-07-15 - ICO News Information Commissioner calls for water companies to be crystal clear with public over sewage pollution
Water companies must put transparency first if they want to rebuild public trust, we have warned.
2024-07-09 - ICO News Do I really need to read the privacy notice?
At the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), we are encouraging people to check how an app plans to use their personal information before they sign up.
2024-07-08 - ICO News DPPC 2024
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will hold its annual Data Protection Practitioners' Conference (DPPC) online on Tuesday 8 October.
2024-05-23 - ICO News PSNI facing a £750k fine following spreadsheet error that exposed the personal information of its entire workforce
Data breach brought tangible fear of threat to life
2024-05-21 - ICO News We warn organisations must not ignore data protection risks as we conclude Snap ‘My AI’ chatbot investigation
ICO concludes investigation into Snap’s approach to assessing the data protection risks of its ‘My AI’ chatbot
2024-05-16 - ICO News Car rental manager fined after unlawfully obtaining customer data
A former Management Trainee at Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK Limited ("Enterprise Rent-A-Car") has been ordered to pay a fine after admitting he illegally obtained customer data between 18 March 2019 and 1 April 2019.
2024-05-13 - ICO News Children’s services in Birmingham reprimanded after inappropriately disclosing a child’s personal information
We have issued a reprimand to Birmingham Children's Trust Community Interest Company after the personal information of a child was inappropriately disclosed to another family.
2024-05-10 - ICO News Organisations must do more to combat the growing threat of cyber attacks
We are calling for all organisations to boost their cyber security and protect the personal information they hold, amid the growing threat of cyber attacks.
Our own trend data reveals…
2024-05-03 - ICO News Registration opens for ICO annual conference
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will hold its annual Data Protection Practitioners' Conference (DPPC) online on Tuesday 8 October.
2024-04-30 - ICO News Information Commissioner: Persistent sensitive information breaches failing people living with HIV
People living with HIV denied “basic dignity and privacy” by repeated data breaches that disclose their HIV status
2024-04-24 - ICO News ICO fines two companies a total of £340,000 for making aggressive and unwanted marketing calls
Almost 1.43 million calls made over a 13-month period.
2024-04-24 - ICO News ICO yn dirwyo dau gwmni cyfanswm o £340,000 am wneud galwadau marchnata ymosodol a digroeso
Bron 1.43 miliwn o alwadau wedi’u gwneud dros gyfnod o 13 mis
2024-04-17 - ICO News Housing association reprimanded for exposing personal information on online portal
We have issued a reprimand to Clyde Valley Housing Association in Lanarkshire after personal information was accessible to other residents on an online customer portal.
2024-04-15 - ICO News ICO publishes guidance to improve transparency in health and social care
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is supporting health and social care organisations to ensure they are being transparent with people about how their personal information is being used.
2024-04-12 - ICO News Information Commissioner’s Office seeks views on accuracy of generative AI models
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched the latest instalment in its consultation series examining how data protection law applies to the development and use of generative AI.
2024-04-04 - ICO News ICO joins global data protection and privacy enforcement programme
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has signed onto a new international multilateral agreement with the Global Cooperation Arrangement for Privacy Enforcement (Global CAPE) to cooperate in cross-border data protection and privacy enforcement.
2024-04-03 - ICO News ICO sets out priorities to protect children's privacy online
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is calling on social media and video-sharing platforms to improve their data protection practices so children are safer when using their services. This comes as the regulator sets out its 2024-2025 priorities for protecting children's personal information online.
2024-03-18 - ICO News ICO publishes new fining guidance
The Information Commissioner’s Office has published new data protection fining guidance setting out how it decides to issue penalties and calculate fines.
2024-03-15 - ICO News ICO reprimands Dover Harbour Board and Kent Police over information sharing
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued reprimands to Dover Harbour Board and Kent Police after they breached data protection law.
2024-03-14 - ICO News ICO reprimands London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime for complaint web form error
Web form to complain about the Metropolitan Police Service accidentally revealed victims' data
2024-03-07 - ICO News ICO fines Wigan-based Pinnacle Life £80,000 for “predatory” spam call campaign
Wigan-based company Pinnacle Life has been fined £80,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a year-long unlawful spam phone call campaign.
2024-03-04 - ICO News ICO warns charities about direct marketing rules as it orders Penny Appeal to stop sending spam texts
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered a charity to stop sending unsolicited marketing texts to people without their consent, as it reminds all charities of their legal obligations.
2024-03-04 - ICO News Y Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth yn galw ar uwch arweinwyr i gymryd tryloywder o ddifrif
Heddiw, wrth i'm swyddfa gymryd camau rheoleiddio pellach yn erbyn pedwar sefydliad cyhoeddus am eu methiannau parhaus i gyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau o dan y Ddeddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth, rwy’n ysgrifennu atoch i'ch atgoffa bod tryloywder yn hanfodol os yw'r bobl a'r cymunedau rydyn ni’n eu gwasanaethu i fod yn hyderus yn y ffordd y mae gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael eu darparu.
2024-03-04 - ICO News Information Commissioner calls for senior leaders to take transparency seriously
Today, as my office takes further regulatory action against five public organisations for their continued failings to meet their obligations under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, I am writing to remind you that transparency is essential if the people and communities we serve are to have confidence in the way that public services are delivered.
2024-03-04 - ICO News ICO takes regulatory action against five public authorities under the FOI Act
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has taken action against five public authorities for continued failings to meet their obligations under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
2024-03-01 - ICO News ICO reprimands West Midlands Police for data protection failure
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a reprimand to West Midlands Police (WMP) after the force repeatedly mixed up two people’s personal information.