PL&B UK E-news, Issue 90
1. ICO launches its Privacy Notices Code of Practice today
The new Privacy Notices Code of Practice is designed to help organisations provide more user-friendly privacy and marketing notices. At present, the ICO has found that privacy notices are often confusing to the public when written in legal jargon. They sometimes protect organisations rather than provide understandable information to individuals. The ICO’s objective is that Privacy Notices will become clearer encouraging organisations to become more open about how they use personal information.
Iain Bourne, Head of Data Protection Projects at the ICO, said: “The new Code of Practice places the emphasis on language to ensure privacy notices are understandable to the people they are aimed at. Organisations must use personal information in a way people would expect.
“Individuals must also empower themselves by ensuring they understand exactly what they’re agreeing to when filling in online or paper forms. The Code of Practice will help businesses to develop a higher level of trust and a better relationship with the people they collect information about.”
The new information includes, in addition to the code itself:
- a small business checklist
- two short films using a call centre and street scenario showing good and bad practice
- tips on text message marketing, and
- a leaflet for individuals.
The new code is at
Iain Bourne, Head of Data Protection Projects at the ICO, will give a presentation about this new code and answer questions at PL&B’s 22nd Annual International Conference, 6-8 July at St. John’s College, Cambridge.
2. New Data Protection Standard
The BSI launched its new Standard for Data Protection on 2 June. The standard, BS10012, ‘Data Protection – Specification for a personal information management system’, has been developed to establish best practice and aid compliance with data protection legislation. It is the first British standard for the management of personal information.
The code can be ordered from the BSI at Price: £100, £50 for BSI members.
Read more about the standard and how it can be used in the next issue of PL&B UK.
Nicola McKilligan, a Privacy Consultant, who drafted the code, will give a presentation about this new code and answer questions at PL&B’s 22nd Annual International Conference, 6-8 July at St. John’s College, Cambridge.
3. Personal Data Guardianship Code released
The British Computer Society and the Information Security Awareness Forum (ISAF) launched a code of conduct for handling personal data on 2 June. The Personal Data Guardianship Code aim is to change the culture of organisations towards the handling of personal data by promoting best practice and providing 'common sense' guidance.
A full analysis of this code will be published in the next issue of PL&B UK.
4. ICO preparing statutory Code of Practice for online data collection
The ICO is preparing a new statutory code of practice: ‘Personal Information Online’, to be published in May 2010. The code is intended to help organisations that collect personal data via websites to comply with the law and to adopt good practice. The code will address the following areas:
- Operating a privacy-friendly website
- Rights and protections for individuals
- Privacy choices and default settings
- Cyberspace and territoriality.
There will be a 12 week consultation period between January and April 2010. However, prior to that, the ICO is calling for interested organisations and individuals to form a group of experts that will act as critical readers and also to take part in a series of roundtable discussions.
Any offers to host discussion meetings would be particularly welcome. Please contact Shona Ritchie, International Officer, shona.ritchie@ico.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 19 June
For further details on the Privacy Laws & Business UK Newsletter, please click here.
Copyright Privacy Laws & Business 2009