| Link(s): | Paul Arnold MBE’s opening speech at DPPC 2026 Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2026 |
Context
Paul Arnold MBE, Chief Executive Officer at the ICO, spoke at the opening of the DPCC 2026.
Key points to note and next actions
- Paul outlined that stronger collaboration between the ICO and organisations is essential to help navigate the opportunities and risks presented by new technologies and changing expectations within society.
- He talked about ensuring trust through responsible innovation, where the protection of privacy and enabling of innovation can strengthen and complement each other, and that building public trust requires organisations to embed data protection and safeguards into the development and use of new technologies.
- The ICO aims to support organisations through its guidance, using tools such as Data Protection Essentials. It will continue to engage on emerging technologies such as agentic AI, while taking transparent and proportionate enforcement action where necessary.
- The ICO is committed to listening to stakeholders. It welcomes feedback and is working collaboratively across sectors to help professionals manage risks, build confidence and deliver responsible data use that benefits the public.