You are here: silicon.com > Public Sector > News

Give us more power, says data protection watchdog

The eyes in the sky have it...

Tags: surveillance

By Gemma Simpson

Published: 1 May 2007 09:30 BST

The UK's data protection watchdog wants to be given more power to check companies are compliant with privacy laws.

Currently the watchdog must gain consent before inspecting an organisation for compliance with the Data Protection Act.

But giving evidence before the Home Affairs Select Committee, information commissioner Richard Thomas called for stronger powers to allow his office to carry out inspections and audits.

He said in a statement: "People now understand that data protection is an essential barrier to excessive surveillance. But it is wrong that my office cannot find out what is happening in practice without the consent of each organisation."

The commissioner also called for "privacy impact assessments" to make sure businesses tackle all the risks of new surveillance plans prior to their implementation and to minimise the threat to privacy.

Thomas said it is essential that before new surveillance technologies are introduced, full consideration is given to the impact on individuals and that safeguards are in place to minimise intrusion. These assessments are already commonly used in other countries such as Australia and the US.

He said: "No one wants their electronic footprint to expose every aspect of their daily life," and warned that if action is not taken the trust and confidence which individuals must have in all organisations that hold information about them will be put in jeopardy.

The Information Commissioner's Office is developing an Information Sharing Code of Practice and updating the CCTV code of practice, both due to be published during the coming year.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

silicon.com Public Sector
Get the latest public sector news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the PS newsletter today!


  • Jobs
Information Governance Manager (NHS)

Protection Act 1998; Freedom of Information Act 2001 and Access to Healthcare Records Act 1990. Information Governance Manager urgently required by ...

Graduate C# .NET SQL Developer, Anite, Slough

All data is processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Role: Graduate C# .NET SQL Developer, Anite, Slough Location: ...

Technical Support Consultant Network Security

All data is processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Job title: Technical Support Consultant Network Security ...

Peter Cochrane
Peter Cochrane's Blog: Government gaffe
Misunderstanding IT… again

Martyn Hart
Green IT changes outsourcing for all
Gov't guidelines bring carbon footprint to the forefront

silicon.com
Inbox: Data breaches, tech wages, ePassport woes
"If you offer training, you'll be fighting the applicants off with the proverbial stick..."

silicon.com
Inbox: Snooping bills, spam mountains, boring IT
"Have gov't all taken leave of their senses?"

Martyn Hart
Is short-termism holding back public sector outsourcing?
Comment: Driving down bids can store up trouble

silicon.com
Inbox: YouTube surveillance, skills gap, Naked speak
"It is up to citizens to use them, and not just moan in comments to silicon.com"

Agenda Setters 2008
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.




Quick Sitemap Links: