Information Commissioner’s Annual Report and Financial Statements 2016/17
The Information Commissioner’s Annual Report 2016/17 highlights the fact that during 2017-18, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) faces the challenge of not only maintaining its performance in processing work arising from its current responsibilities under the Data Protection Act (DPA), but must also prepare for major changes to its data protection work with the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018. This new regulation represents a major change in data protection legislation which will have a large impact, not only on the duties and responsibilities of data controllers and the rights of individual citizens, but also on how the ICO works as a regulator.
The Information Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Elizabeth Denham said –
“As the laws we regulate change, there is an opportunity for us to improve the trust that the public feel in those who process their personal data or who make information available to the public.”
The 2016/17 Annual Report focuses on the ICO’s overall productivity for data protection, freedom of information and self reported breaches under the current DPA. The Report makes clear that work is up on last year with data protection closures in particular increasing by 1,637 (10%). Freedom of information, written advice and enforcement work also continued an upwards trend.
This year saw a significant increase in the number of data protection concerns brought to them with over 18,300 cases received; about 2,000 more than last year. Of these they have resolved more cases than ever before, closing over 17,300. Impressively, 90% of cases were resolved within three months of receipt!
The ICO also issued more civil monetary penalties for breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) than ever with 23 penalties totalling £1,923,000 covering a range of unlawful marketing activities. One of the largest was for £270,000, served on Road Traffic Consult for making 22 million unsolicited automated marketing calls to members of the public.
Ms Denham, Information Commissioner expresses within the report that;
“The digital economy is very important to the UK – personal data and how it is handled is central to trade and growth and studies show the digital economy is growing 30% faster than the rest of the economy. Data knows no borders.”
Andrew Swan, Head of Regulation and Financial Crime at Short, Richardson & Forth states:
“The Commissioner’s Annual Report makes for impressive reading and demonstrates the efforts that are being made to enhance the world of data protection. We continue to see a rise in ICO enforcement activity and, as a firm, we have a dedicated team of solicitors to advise and assist clients in this difficult area”.
A full version of the report can be accessed via the link below:
ICO Annual Report and Financial Statements 2016/17
If you would like advice on any data protection issues including the GDPR and how to prepare, please contact Andrew Swan or Sheila Ramshaw on 0191 232 0283 or at [email protected] and [email protected] respectively.