Information
Commissioner's Office
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent
public body set up to promote access to official information and to
protect personal information.
The ICO regulate
and enforce the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act,
the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and the Environmental
Information Regulations.
The ICO provides
guidance to organisations and individuals. They rule on eligible complaints
and can take action when the law is broken.
Reporting directly
to Parliament, the Commissioner's powers include the ability to order
compliance, using enforcement and decision notices, and prosecution.
The ICO's aims
are to ensure that:
-
Public
information is out in the open, unless there are good reasons for
non-disclosure
-
Personal
information is properly protected.
