http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./RSSFeeds/PressReleases.aspx Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:09:14 GMT Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:59:32 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 To mark the start of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is urging individuals to test how well they look after their personal information by using the Personal Information Healthcheck. The online tool provides advice to individuals on how to protect personal details and reduce the risk of identity fraud. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/nat_id_fraud_prevention_week031008.pdf Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:59:32 GMT 770f000b-e72f-4998-907d-9b36018c309b The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has successfully prosecuted a Waltham Forest accountant for offences under the Data Protection Act. David Wenham of David J Wenham & Co was fined £450 and ordered to pay costs of £587.40, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15. Mr Wenham must pay a total of £1,052.40 in fines and costs. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/east_london_accountant_non-notification.pdf Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:17:45 GMT ef5611f1-9c3e-4531-9c95-b7412cc02789 The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has found Virgin Media Limited in breach of the Data Protection Act following the loss of an unencrypted CD containing the personal details of over three thousand customers. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/virgin_undertaking_pr_300908.pdf Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:53:34 GMT c44f0e74-902e-4f02-9b0e-0e4ae6044496 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) in breach of the Data Protection Act after it failed to supply an individual with information it held about that person. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/clg_enforcement_action260908.pdf Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:26:52 GMT 9ec2a3f0-c813-4a4c-9297-585afc208928 Ever wondered how much your local council spends on keeping your roads and parks clean and tidy? What about the number of empty properties that are in your area? The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is today launching tips to help people use their rights under the Freedom of Information Act to access official information from public authorities. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/inter_right_to_know_day.pdf Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:19:51 GMT 184376ca-0ad8-4124-a710-f24210643a9d The Information Commissioner’s Office has taken enforcement action against the Liberal Democrats after finding the party in breach of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. This follows an investigation by the ICO into the party’s use of automated phone calls. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/lib_dem_en_final_250908.pdf Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:42:36 GMT bfb037f0-bb8a-491d-b7d1-cdaaa8e7ec11 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is calling on consumers to exercise their rights under the Data Protection Act to help minimise the amount of personal information held about them by organisations. This follows a number of recent data breaches by high profile organisations which demonstrate the risks if too much personal information is kept. Today the ICO is launching the Personal Information Healthcheck – a new online tool to help consumers do their bit to protect and manage their personal information. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/pi_healthcheck_180908.pdf Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:11:43 GMT a2879bb6-8c22-40e3-b666-e5afb77bc3d8 The Information Commissioner’s Office has published new guidance to help social care staff who regularly handle requests for social services records under the Data Protection Act. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/social_care_sars_final.pdf Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:42:00 GMT b07bee07-7f86-48fa-86e0-96f6d1776390 The ICO is urging local authorities to consider data protection when publishing documents relating to council meetings, such as agendas, reports and minutes, which may contain personal information. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/local_gov_act_schedule_12a_tgn_final.pdf Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:40:19 GMT 2236f9ed-edb6-419c-aef8-eec5534575c7 The Information Commissioner’s Office has published new guidance to help local authority staff who regularly handle requests under the Data Protection Act for local authority housing records. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/housing_records_sars_final.pdf Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:37:46 GMT 84d74837-e7d9-4af4-86af-8f51cfc77640 In the news today is the story of a Marks & Spencer employee who told the mother of a seven year old that they could not talk to her about the delivery of her son’s Superman suit because it would infringe his data protection rights. This is a clear example of a data protection duck out, using the Data Protection Act as an excuse when dealing with enquiries from customers. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/statement_mands_superman.pdf Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:26:34 GMT 2b801194-113f-4146-94df-6481c475b860 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is urging organisations not to hide behind the Data Protection Act unnecessarily when dealing with individuals. The ICO’s call comes at the start of Stupid Aid Week (1-5 September) which highlights common misunderstandings such as the belief by some organisations that data protection stops them giving out any personal information or prevents them from dealing with certain types of enquiries. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/data_protection_duck_out_010908.pdf Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:15:03 GMT ad853e48-805d-4289-b86a-e53b61ad8169 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has commissioned the Enterprise Privacy Group to provide a report examining how organisations can build in privacy protection before implementing new initiatives and technologies. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/enterprise_privacy_group_final.pdf Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:24:05 GMT 8dd883bc-0a80-47f8-b10c-265916e220ae The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary to disclose the make and model of vehicles provided for personal use to two Assistant Chief Constables. This follows a request under the Freedom of Information Act for details about the cars provided to Chief Police Officers for their personal use. The public authority confirmed that two Assistant Chief Constables are provided with vehicles for their own use. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/hampshire_constabulary_dn210808.pdf Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:45:14 GMT c998ffb2-b5c6-4c5c-a55e-cf2a186c685f The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is calling on public authorities to become more transparent by proactively disclosing official information. This comes as the ICO launches its new model publication scheme for public authorities. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/publication_schemes_general_final.pdf Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:33:58 GMT 00205335-ca59-4d34-93b6-011a86119fa5 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) yesterday successfully prosecuted a Middlesex accountant for offences under the Data Protection Act. Mr Satish Lakhani of Lake & Co Accountants based in Harrow, was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £483.40, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15 at Harrow Magistrates Court. Mr Lakhani must pay a total of £798.40 in fines and costs. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/harrow_accountant_non_not_accountant200808final.pdf Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:00:32 GMT e15d63bc-5bad-4138-ba15-f9ea11a75b97 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the release of Cabinet Office papers prepared for a Ministerial Working Group meeting in October 2005 which took the decision to continue the Accession States Worker Registration Scheme (WRS). The ICO has ruled that releasing the information under the Freedom of Information Act would improve public understanding of the controversial decision. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/worker_registration_scheme_dn130808.pdf Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:25:34 GMT 1ca63131-be55-4678-bea9-baa4ce76ee6e The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ruled that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) was right to refuse a request, under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), for the draft report into potential areas of radioactive waste storage methods in the UK. The ICO agrees that the draft report represents a dated review and that the final report, already in the public domain, provides a more current guide to where the NDA intends to focus its future activities. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/nda_decision_notice_080808.pdf Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:24:55 GMT 37253d8a-dee4-49f8-8708-e62ec20ba617 Following publicity about vans collecting images of streets preparatory to the future launch of the Google Streetview service in UK, the ICO had a further meeting with Google to understand the steps they are taking to address privacy concerns. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/google_streetview.pdf Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:07:57 GMT 776e9bc0-468b-479b-86a1-2312aecda3d7 Following a complaint under the Freedom of Information Act, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to disclose the names of individuals who have died in work-related incidents but only after the coroner’s inquests had opened. The ICO also believes HSE should release similar information in the future but not more frequently than at monthly intervals. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/health_&_safety_executive_010808.pdf Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:06 GMT f1af06e0-3277-4707-bbac-9ec54259d8d6 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is renewing its call to public authorities to become more transparent by routinely publishing minutes and agendas of meetings. The ICO is today publishing new guidance to help public authorities understand what information should be made public under the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/foi_guidance_310708.pdf Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:45:42 GMT 560194de-45d9-4d2a-9b7a-d01cafa45162 The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) yesterday successfully prosecuted a London accountant for offences under the Data Protection Act. Mr Aziz Arian of Arian & Co Accountants based in Whitechapel, was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £518.40, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15 at London City Magistrates Court. Mr Arian must pay a total of £933.40 in fines and costs. http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/london_city_nonnot_accountant_300708final.pdf Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:39:32 GMT 89703c11-6bea-48ad-af4f-7ccaf5da9a46 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.dataprotection.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.dataprotection.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.dataprotection.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.dataprotection.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.dataprotection.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.dataprotection.gov.uk./upload/documents/pressreleases/2008/bbc_eastenders_080708.pdf Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:21:22 GMT ebeb2657-dbc9-45eb-be67-ccac774ca248