Today, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) stepped up its campaign to make organisations aware of their data protection obligations, and individuals aware of the dangers of not looking after their personal data. The campaign started with an interview with Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, on BBC Breakfast this morning. Nothing that Richard said - that organisations need to take this seriously, that the ICO wants more powers and sanctions - was particularly new. However, the interview was designed to be educational rather than to unveil new policies or views, and in my view it succeeded.
The interview coincides with the publication today of the ICO's annual report. The report isn't out as I write this, but it seems pretty likely that data protection awareness will be one of the main themes of the report. In a press release this morning, the ICO said that it has received over 24,000 enquiries and complaints about personal data in 2006/2007.
Another one of the ICO's main concerns at the moment is the surveillance society. (See our overview of the ICO's 2006 report on the surveillance society.) Those of you that watch BBC Breakfast will have seen the Beeb's series of 5 minute features on the Surveillance Society. The series, which has been running every day this week, has been an excellent introduction to the key wider issues raised by the increase in surveillance in UK society.
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