ICO - Information Commissioner's Office
@ICOnews

We exist to empower you through information.

 Wilmslow, Cheshire
ico.org.uk
Joined July 2009
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🆕 Changes to data protection laws will make it easier for UK businesses to protect people’s personal information while growing and innovating their products and services. Find out more 👇
On one side two people are checking details on a laptop. The text on the other side reads: "Data use and access: the law is changing."

ALT On one side two people are checking details on a laptop. The text on the other side reads: "Data use and access: the law is changing."

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NEW: We've fined two home improvement companies for making unlawful nuisance calls to vulnerable people. One company also used software to make 'robo-calls'.
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You can listen to the recording of one of the 'robo-calls' below and learn more details about the cases on our website: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…
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NEW: UK Government Ministers have announced a review into private messaging and non-corporate channels in government like WhatsApp. We welcome this review – you can read our full response below. Read more about the review here: questions-statements.parliam….
We welcome the government’s decision to launch this review and stand ready to contribute our expertise and insight to help ensure a thorough and transparent process. This is a measure we have advocated for repeatedly, including in a report we laid before Parliament, and we are pleased to see it moving forward. Society benefits when public services earn trust through transparency and fairness. We encourage a comprehensive assessment that builds trust and confidence in the way non-corporate communications channels are used by government.

ALT We welcome the government’s decision to launch this review and stand ready to contribute our expertise and insight to help ensure a thorough and transparent process. This is a measure we have advocated for repeatedly, including in a report we laid before Parliament, and we are pleased to see it moving forward. Society benefits when public services earn trust through transparency and fairness. We encourage a comprehensive assessment that builds trust and confidence in the way non-corporate communications channels are used by government.

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Children are using digital tools at school from classroom apps to learning management systems. But unlike most technologies, they may not have a choice about whether to use them. Today we've published a report looking at the edtech sector ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Edtech examined - key findings from our audits

ALT Edtech examined - key findings from our audits

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Between 2024 and 2025, we carried out audits with 28 edtech providers. These products are widely used in UK schools. We looked at a broad range of tools to help build a clear picture of how children’s personal data is being handled across the sector. ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken….

Edtech examined

We have worked directly with edtech providers to review and improve data protection practices within the sector.

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New legal requirements on how organisations handle data protection complaints are now in force, marking a significant change for businesses across the UK. The legal duty now applies to all organisations handling personal information, regardless of size or sector. 👇👇
New data protection complaints process law. Make sure your business is ready.

ALT New data protection complaints process law. Make sure your business is ready.

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Not sure how your business would handle a data protection complaint? Our guidance explains what you need to do to comply with the new law: ico.org.uk/for-organisations….

How to deal with data protection complaints

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NEW: We've concluded our criminal investigation into the unlawful obtaining and disclosure of medical information to a third party without the consent of the data controller, related to a breach reported by the London Clinic in March 2024: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med….

ICO statement - conclusion of criminal investigation

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🆕The UK government has announced plans to protect children online by restricting access to social media. Working to keep children safe online is a priority for the ICO. We'll continue to work with government and other regulators to ensure any changes deliver robust protection
Our response to UK government's new measures to protect children online.

ALT Our response to UK government's new measures to protect children online.

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You can read our statement in full: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med….

ICO statement on UK government announcement about social media restrictions for under 16s

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During elections, if a political party offers to help you register for a postal vote, it should be clear if they want to use your information. It should not come as a surprise to you if your data is used for their election campaign. You have rights: ico.org.uk/for-the-public/yo…
Decorative image. A series of mobile phones with election campaigning content: a rosette, a ballot box, a person giving a speech.

ALT Decorative image. A series of mobile phones with election campaigning content: a rosette, a ballot box, a person giving a speech.

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🆕 Smart products slide seamlessly into our everyday lives and collect vast amounts of personal information. We’re calling on developers and manufacturers to prioritise people’s privacy in our final Internet of Things guidance. More below 👇
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Our final guidance reflects feedback we received on our consultation last year. If you’re a developer or manufacturer of smart products, read the final guidance on our website: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…
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We welcome this disqualification. Leanne Richardson was director of a company that knew the law but deliberately chose to ignore it for financial gain. We fined ESL Consultancy Service Ltd £200,000 for instigating unlawful loan promotion nuisance texts: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…

Company fined ÂŁ200,000 for instigating unlawful loan promotion nuisance texts

We have fined West Sussex-based company ESL Consultancy Services Ltd (ESL) ÂŁ200,000 for knowingly instigating unlawful loan promotion nuisance text messages being sent to people who had not consented...

ico.org.uk
Insolvency Service
@insolvencygovuk
Jun 3
The boss of a West Sussex consultancy firm, which triggered almost 38,000 complaints for unlawful nuisance texts, has been banned as a company director until 2032. Find out more ⤵️ gov.uk/government/news/boss-…
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We made sure that two former RAC employees, guilty of stealing personal information and selling it on, have to pay back over £118,000: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…

Success in securing over ÂŁ118,000 in confiscation orders against two former RAC employees

We have secured successful outcomes at Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearings, resulting in a total of ÂŁ118,852.32 in confiscation orders being handed to Greater Manchester based former RAC employees...

ico.org.uk
ICO - Information Commissioner's Office
@ICOnews
9 Oct 2024
🆕 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. Find out more about the case: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…
Andy Curry, Head of Investigations, said: “Accessing people’s personal information when there isn’t a business need to do so is against the law. To then take steps to profit from other people’s misfortune by selling that information is appalling. We will always take action to protect the public from this type of unlawful behaviour.”

ALT Andy Curry, Head of Investigations, said: “Accessing people’s personal information when there isn’t a business need to do so is against the law. To then take steps to profit from other people’s misfortune by selling that information is appalling. We will always take action to protect the public from this type of unlawful behaviour.”

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Following a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, confiscation orders were handed to Greater Manchester based former RAC employees Debbie Okparavero and Maliha Islam. This is in addition to their to six-month suspended prison sentences and an order to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
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ICO - Information Commissioner's Office retweeted
Parent Zone@TheParentsZone
Jun 3
Your child is building a detailed digital profile from as young as four. Do you know what data they're sharing? Katie Searle of the @ICOnews joins Tech Shock to discuss Switched on to privacy and what parents can do. buzzsprout.com/1739115/episo…
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🆕 £355,880 confiscation order against former Manchester motor insurance worker, Rizwan Manjra, who illegally accessed personal information on work systems for his own gain. Read the story in full: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…

ÂŁ355,880.10 confiscation order secured following proceeds of crime hearing

We have secured a ÂŁ355,880.10 confiscation order against former Manchester motor insurance worker, Rizwan Manjra, who was previously found guilty of securing unauthorised access to personal informa...

ico.org.uk
ICO - Information Commissioner's Office
@ICOnews
12 Dec 2024
🆕 A motor insurance worker who unlawfully accessed personal information has been handed a suspended prison sentence after our investigation. Rizwan Manjra led a team dealing with accident claims for Markerstudy Insurance Services Limited in Manchester:ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…
Andy Curry, ICO Head of Investigations, said: “Manjra abused the trust his employer placed in him, and sought to use their customers’ personal information for his own ends. “We will take action to protect UK businesses and members of the public from threats to their personal information. Today’s outcome should send a strong deterrent message to others who may contemplate accessing information which they don’t have a right to look at."

ALT Andy Curry, ICO Head of Investigations, said: “Manjra abused the trust his employer placed in him, and sought to use their customers’ personal information for his own ends. “We will take action to protect UK businesses and members of the public from threats to their personal information. Today’s outcome should send a strong deterrent message to others who may contemplate accessing information which they don’t have a right to look at."

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🆕 We’ve fined Energy Prices Direct Limited (EPDL) £160,000 for making illegal marketing calls to people. EPDL made over 700,000 calls to numbers registered to the Telephone Preference Service and Corporate Telephone Preference Service.
Photograph of Andy Curry, Head of Investigations, with a quote to his left that reads: "Companies must understand that is they ignore the lad and continue to bombard people with unwanted sales calls, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action."

ALT Photograph of Andy Curry, Head of Investigations, with a quote to his left that reads: "Companies must understand that is they ignore the lad and continue to bombard people with unwanted sales calls, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action."

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Read all the details about this case on our website: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/med…

Glasgow-based energy company fined ÂŁ160,000 for making unsolicited marketing calls

We have fined a Glasgow-based company ÂŁ160,000 for making over 700,000 unsolicited marketing sales calls to numbers registered on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and Corporate Telephone...

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