Information Commissioner's Office
From SR
Roles
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent public body set up to promote access to official information and protect personal information.
The ICO carries out independent investigations and rules on eligible complaints from people who:
- are unhappy with the way public authorities have handled requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act;
- think organisations or individuals have breached the Data Protection Act in the way they hold and handle personal information
The ICO enforces and oversees the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.
Their main functions are:
- educating and influencing (they promote good practice and give information and advice)
- resolving problems (they resolve eligible complaints from people who think their rights have been breached)
- enforcing (they use legal sanctions against those who ignore or refuse to accept their obligations).
Services
- General enquiry service for individuals and organisations.
- Publish guidance and information to encourage organisations to achieve good practice and help individuals to understand their rights.
- Resolve eligible complaints from people who think the Data Protection Act or Freedom of Information Act has been breached.
- Maintain the public register of data controllers.
- Approve publication schemes adopted by public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Prosecute those who commit offences under the legislation.
- Speak to groups to raise awareness of the law and how it works.
- Influence thinking on privacy and access issues.
Reporting Hierarchy
The ICO is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.
