http://www.ico.gov.uk/RSSFeeds/PressReleases.aspx Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:16:02 GMT Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:11:04 GMT en Copyright 2006 Information Commissioner's Office Sitecore CMS: http://www.sitecore.net. Sitecore RSS module: Sitecore.Modules.RSS, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null Students can find out more about their exam marks this summer by using their rights under the Data Protection Act. The guidance, 'Individuals’ rights of access to examination records', has been developed to explain individuals’ rights to access personal exam records under the Act. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/examination_records_final.pdf Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:11:04 GMT 9055430b-af8d-41d9-8d88-05191a7d192b Five police forces have been ordered to delete old criminal convictions from the Police National Computer. In dismissing appeals by Humberside, Northumbria, Staffordshire, Greater Manchester and West Midlands Police, the Information Tribunal has today upheld the view of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that the retention of the old convictions data is in breach of the Data Protection Act. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/police_enforcement_tribunal_decision210708.pdf Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:44:24 GMT b67325ad-2330-46ea-b597-cbdd4be16d94 View extracts from the speech of Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner, delivered at the ICO Annual Report Launch on 15 July 2008. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/annual_report_2008_rt_speech.pdf Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:09:39 GMT e3bdd4b9-7af2-4ba9-8bed-c70a30e3fc90 Any government run database holding the telephone and internet communications of the entire population would raise serious data protection concerns, the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, is warning today. Commenting on speculation that the government is considering the development of such a database Richard Thomas will say that it would be ‘a step too far for the British way of life’. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/annual_report_web_version.pdf Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:25:15 GMT dbfe6e35-e805-44b6-847e-1dadfa572b9a The report of the Data Sharing Review which Richard Thomas and Mark Walport have undertaken at the request of the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary, has been published. It can be accessed here http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/thomas_walport_statement.pdf Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:45:59 GMT dd7cb115-7f6b-494c-b440-ad3f35ceb18b The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the BBC to disclose the annual staff costs for Eastenders under the Freedom of Information Act. The ICO’s decision follows a request to the BBC for the total annual staff costs for the programme and the annual value of performers’ contracts. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/bbc_eastenders_080708.pdf Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:21:22 GMT ebeb2657-dbc9-45eb-be67-ccac774ca248 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is leading an international debate about the future direction of data protection law in Europe. The ICO – the UK’s privacy watchdog – has announced that RAND Europe has been commissioned to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of European Data Protection law and to identify promising avenues for reform. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/ico_leads_debate_070708.pdf Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:49:40 GMT b26bccd2-3dca-49bb-a683-cc9527a83cee The Information Commissioner’s Office is encouraging organisations in the public sector to seek recognition for good data protection practices by applying for a prestigious European award which aims to increase awareness of best practice in data protection around Europe. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/data_protection_award_july2008.pdf Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:39:10 GMT bc53ec77-4d54-4cb5-b539-ca345c112b82 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered a double glazing company to stop making cold calls to members of the public. The action has been brought under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) following thousands of complaints from individuals to the ICO and the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/weatherseal_en_final.pdf Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:28:45 GMT 7458cb40-514e-4d54-ba39-0a4c6d4d0a1a In view of the House of Commons debate scheduled for 3 July 2008 on a Motion on MPs’ pay and allowances, the Information Commissioner considers that it would be helpful to set out his position in relation to the disclosure of MPs’ home addresses. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/ico_statements_disclosure_of_mps_home_address_300608.pdf Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:11:20 GMT 858a1673-df47-4319-94d2-4d05463f3ccf The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered Mid Suffolk District Council to release a contract with a commercial partner, including the financial details, concerning the work to carry out repairs and maintenance at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/mid_suffolk_district_council270608.pdf Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:25:51 GMT ea34542a-f1c2-44eb-bb7b-ee137553620d Parents wishing to capture the moment their child crosses the finish line at their school sports day should not be deterred by data protection myths. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is reminding parents that the Data Protection Act does not prevent them taking photographs of their children and friends participating in school events. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/photography_in_schools_180608.pdf Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:01:46 GMT 9305720f-5246-4975-baac-92a15bf2661a The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, will be taking formal enforcement action against HMRC and MOD following serious data breaches. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/hmrc_mod_data_security_breaches_25062008.pdf Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:05:22 GMT 0ae846c7-4e22-4536-afab-9901bf45e72d The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the Department for Transport (DfT) to release information relating to the proposal for a second runway at Stansted airport, under the Environmental Information Regulations. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/stansted_airport_dn_230608.pdf Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:40:04 GMT b3e2f52b-5e3e-4b54-9bd7-e93a8dc1ced8 Two private investigators have today pleaded guilty to obtaining and selling personal information after illegally ‘blagging’ the personal details of a customer from BT, following a successful prosecution by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/hackett_and_whalley200608final.pdf Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:15:55 GMT dd321ea5-65ed-463f-9c47-a6206c2561d7 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has upheld decisions made by three local authorities across South Wales that details relating to the number of exclusions from named schools in the region should not be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/welsh_schools_exclusion_figures.pdf Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:39:30 GMT 4407f8aa-9e00-4847-8fb8-d77996699819 Aubrey McCrory has been appointed to the position of Assistant Commissioner for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in Northern Ireland. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/aubrey_mccrory_ni_appointment.pdf Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:37:11 GMT 5f73a651-319e-4fbf-a2cb-ffc54a4199fa The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, comments following the Home Affairs Committee’s call for the Government to curb unnecessary surveillance. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/statement_home_affairs_committee.pdf Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:59:54 GMT bd7b09ba-fdd3-48b3-9874-666f4c2808ce The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today published new guidance to help organisations comply with the Data Protection Act when providing information about their employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE). http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/tupe_guidance_final.pdf Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:11:46 GMT 600ad70a-7434-4829-befe-b3489a0dd887 Speaking at the 2008 FOI Live conference, Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, will call on public authorities to disclose more information proactively and eradicate unnecessary secrecy. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/corporate_plan_020608final.pdf Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:09:54 GMT 7f3bdf57-0278-442c-9890-af2b927cc363 In most cases data protection requirements will prevent the disclosure of home addresses to third parties in response to freedom of information requests. As a general rule the ICO would not order disclosure of address information beyond the first three digits of a postcode; we take a cautious approach because there is a recognised intrusion into private life. It is not always possible to predict all possible risks and any disclosure cannot be recalled. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/ico_position_mp_addresses.pdf Thu, 29 May 2008 09:33:26 GMT af2f35a4-88ab-43ff-9133-2126a63d51e2 The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has released a further statement following the High Court's ruling that MPs must disclose details of their expenses. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/ico_statement_second_mps_expenses.pdf Fri, 23 May 2008 10:52:27 GMT 41628b9a-c554-432f-bb0e-573804089953 The ICO has released a statement about the proposal to create a government database which will store details of every UK citizen's phone and internet use. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/proposed_government_database.pdf Tue, 20 May 2008 10:02:55 GMT 60f485d1-2f12-406f-bd47-2d432516e40f The ICO has released a statement following today's High Court ruling that MPs must disclose details of their second home expenses. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/high_court_ruling_on_mps_160508.pdf Fri, 16 May 2008 12:24:08 GMT 140a109e-8866-4661-98dd-56bc115a4ffe Following the recent local elections, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is today reminding elected councillors in Wales of their obligations under the Data Protection Act. Anne Jones, Assistant Commissioner for Wales at the ICO, has written to all local councils offering advice and assistance. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/welsh_elected_members_guidance_final.pdf Thu, 15 May 2008 15:05:43 GMT 1cde323a-b495-4f00-ab54-351b85aad739 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has successfully prosecuted a professional photographer for offences under the Data Protection Act. Charles Pycraft of YD Image Ltd, was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £500, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15. YD Image Ltd was also prosecuted separately and must pay a £100 fine and £15 victim surcharge. Mr Pycraft must pay a total of £930. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/yd_images_nonnotification_example.pdf Wed, 14 May 2008 16:38:02 GMT 5353118f-9120-4d9a-9682-34445433b4ba New guidance is being published today for public authorities on how to handle requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). The booklet, 'Hints for Practitioners handling FOI and EIR requests', has been produced in collaboration between the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/new_guidance_140508.pdf Wed, 14 May 2008 11:33:01 GMT 9f94496b-189d-472a-9d20-00c84fe59127 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published the findings of its Data Protection Officer Conference. The conference took place in March this year and was attended by data protection officers working in the public, private and third sectors all over the country. The event was extremely oversubscribed, with almost 400 individuals applying for the 120 places available. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/dp_conference_findings_1205081004001.pdf Mon, 12 May 2008 16:40:14 GMT 9774ceb1-1846-40d7-bf40-4a3371257fff The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act has received Royal Assent creating tough new sanctions for the privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This new legislation gives the ICO the power to impose substantial fines on organisations that deliberately or recklessly commit serious breaches of the Data Protection Act. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/criminal_justice_and_immigration_act.pdf Fri, 09 May 2008 14:31:04 GMT 69506f89-405d-44ed-a9e6-a24c2766372e The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, is today reminding chief executives of the vital importance of protecting staff and customers’ personal information following an alarming number of security breaches reported to his Office in the past six months. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/data_security_220408 2.pdf Fri, 09 May 2008 09:30:32 GMT c514f8e2-a63a-4761-85c7-8a1c1e9d334d