09 May 2008
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has been granted new powers. The data watchdog has had one of its requests answered, gaining the ability to impose 'substantial' fines on business that lose data.
The new powers are enabled by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act which this week received Royal Assent, meaning that it has passed into law. The legislation gives the ICO the power to, " impose substantial fines on organisations that deliberately or recklessly commit serious breaches of the Data Protection Act.
David Smith, Deputy Information Commissioner said, “This change in the law sends a very clear signal that data protection must be a priority and that it is completely unacceptable to be cavalier with people’s personal information. The prospect of substantial fines for deliberate or reckless breaches of the Data Protection Principles will act as a strong deterrent and help ensure that organisations take their data protection obligations more seriously.
“This new power will enable some of the worst breaches of the Data Protection Act to be punished. By demonstrating that the law is being taken seriously tougher sanctions will help to reassure individuals that data protection matters and give them confidence that organisations have no choice but to handle personal information properly.
The ICO has repeatedly called for stronger powers since the Data Protection Act came into force.
The news that the ICO is now able to fine organisations who are reckless with personal information is very welcome, and long overdue. The increasing incidences of lost data, both in the public and private sectors, have been well documented and we've known for some time that there is a desperate need for more stringent protection of customer data. The fines should ensure that organisations finally take the need for strengthened internal data infrastructures seriously and, hopefully, put a stop to the careless mistakes that are currently happening far too often.
Posted by: Jason Goodwin, marketing strategy manager, SAS 15 May 2008
Have your say on this article
Newsletters
Latest stories from Privacy
Latest videos
You may also like
Privacy jobs
Technology Patent Wars
Case studies from large organisations across all sectors
... And rich media, and flexible working, and peaks in traffic ...
Upcoming Events
Join us for this Computing web seminar, in which the Head of BI at the Co-operative Group Nick Colebourn will be explaining just how he reigned in the Group’s sprawling database estate and how significant savings were realised and data quality improved as a result.
Date: 31 May 2012
Time: 11:00 AM
Live June 13th 11:00am: Register now. During this web seminar we will be looking at the sorts of incidents that can bring data centres grinding to a halt and what can be done about them.
Date: 13 Jun 2012
Time: 11:00 am
Receive the latest jobs direct to your inbox
Are you being paid what you are worth?
