Context
On 10th September this year the Government released a Public consultation on reforms to the UK’s data protection regime. The consultation remains open, and closes at 11:45pm on 19th November 2021.
At the time, the DCMS described the exercise as “…a consultation on reforms to create an ambitious, pro-growth and innovation-friendly data protection regime that underpins the trustworthy use of data.” Although the Government describes one of its ten tech priorities” as “…unlocking the power of data…”, the ICO has published a lengthy and detailed response (88 pages) to the Consultation, including a Foreword from the current Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham CBE.
Key points to note
- The ICO response document is set out over five chapters and includes an Executive Summary
- The Foreword (13 pages) talks about the rise, and size, of tech businesses in the UK and their contribution to the UK economy
- The chapters cover the following issues:
- Reducing barriers to responsible innovation
- Reducing burdens on businesses and delivering better outcomes for people
- Boosting trade and reducing barriers to data flows
- Delivering better public services
- ICO reform
Next actions
None – for information and awareness, but this Consultation is likely to shape the future of UK data protection legislation and the way Government sees the use of personal data.