Educating and influencing

Our first step is to ensure that organisations are aware of their obligations and that individuals are aware of their rights. Using clear, targeted communication, we will make it plain to organisations what is expected of them, and help individuals understand their rights and how to exercise them. We will also work with organisations and international colleagues to achieve a pragmatic route to good practice.

Educating and influencing - aim one:

To promote freedom of information and open government, to bring about a culture where public bodies make as much official and environmental information available as possible, proactively and progressively, with individuals widely aware of their right to know.

• Deliver a renewed programme to promote good freedom of information practice among public authorities by providing targeted advice and guidance for sectors and individuals, drawing on ICO knowledge, casework and Information Tribunal decisions. As part of this we will prioritise the revision of the ICO’s core set of Freedom of Information Awareness Guidance (approximately 30 items), to be completed during 2008/09, in addition to the development of good practice guidance.
• We will raise public authorities’ awareness of their freedom of information obligations by using media opportunities, and publicising decisions, enforcement activities and case studies. We will also maintain individuals’ awareness of their rights by anticipating their information needs, with the emphasis on providing improved web content and web presence. Programmes will be planned during 2008/09.
• Depending on the outcome of the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on the designation of some private and voluntary organisations as public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, we will specifically target these organisations (resources allowing) with advice and guidance as to their new responsibilities.
• Approve new model publication schemes, for adoption by all public authorities, by 31 December 2008. The schemes will draw on revised approval criteria following consultation across the public sector.

Educating and influencing - aim two:

To promote good data protection practice by organisations when handling personal information, with individuals and organisations widely aware of their rights and obligations.

• Continue to simplify data protection by producing clear guidance, prioritised according to our Data Protection Strategy, and by targeting initiatives at defined audiences and areas of greatest data protection risk. Our aim is that organisations should be confident that they know what they need to do, and individuals should understand their rights.
• Continue to encourage good data protection practice, keeping pace with technological, social and legal changes and setting priorities in accordance with our Data Protection Strategy.
• Play a leading role in policy debates on privacy issues, nationally and internationally, where we can make a difference – with particular emphasis on information sharing, identity management, the risks of a surveillance society and data use by law enforcement agencies.
• Promote and support policies, procedures and legislative changes which improve the effectiveness of data protection in practice, such as stronger sanctions for those convicted of trading unlawfully in personal information. In particular, during 2008/09 we will press the government to introduce legislation to increase our powers, sanctions and resources and to implement recommendations of the independent Data Sharing Review. We will also seek to initiate and influence debate on the EU Data Protection Directive.
• Engage with international colleagues to promote common ground amongst differing approaches to the regulation of data protection and privacy, and to improve communications and effectiveness in line with the London Initiative (an ICO-led agreement by international data protection and privacy commissioners to work together to share best practice).
• Maintain awareness of data protection rights and obligations and anticipate the information needs of our customers, by analysing the most frequently asked questions, and by providing information in the most appropriate way. The emphasis will be on web content, web presence and consumer media relations, with a programme to be planned during 2008/09.
• Raise organisations’ awareness of data protection obligations, using media opportunities, publicising initiatives, enforcement activities and case studies, with a programme to be planned during 2008/09.

Educating and influencing - aim three:

To service the differing needs of communities.

• Promote open government, good data protection practice and the role of the ICO throughout the UK, with our offices in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales serving the particular needs of those communities. Provide information and advice on regionally-specific issues. Work with devolved governments to input early into debates and ensure that data protection and freedom of information considerations are raised and taken into account.
• Complete the implementation of our stakeholder strategy by 2008/09, coordinating our contact and sharing good practice nationally and internationally, with the emphasis on our top stakeholders and on working with intermediary or representative bodies.
• Continue to supply diverse and hard to reach audiences with information in the appropriate format, style and place, with the emphasis on accessibility of materials, consumer media relations, web content and presence.

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