Data regulator issues guidance for online data
Best practise, as long as you've got Flash
Posted in Law, 7th July 2010 12:39 GMT
Watch Now : Virtual Machine Movement with Hyper-V
The Information Commissioner's Office has issued what it calls new rules for the processing of information online.
They're not actually new rules, however - it's just a new 44-page pdf. The leaflet is also available in ebook format.
The failing regulator - facing court action for not meeting minimum European data protection standards and also lined up for reform by the coalition government - claims the pamphlet is the first of its kind.
The pamphlet reminds businesses of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, whether the information is online or in another format.
A spokeswoman for the ICO said the most important changes to best practise were around the use of social networking sites, cookies and behaviourial advertising.
There is a shorter pdf with advice for consumers on cookies, browser settings and social networking sites.
Commissioner Christopher Graham said companies faced a double whammy of enforcement and damaged reputation for data breaches.
The European Commission issued its final warning to the UK government to beef up data and privacy regulation or face a hearing in front of the Court of Justice. The Coalition government yesterday asked for feedback on fundamental reform of the regulator.
Viviane Reding said last month: "Having a watchdog with insufficient powers is like keeping your guard dog tied up in the basement."
The ICO has been criticised in the past for failing to act over Google mass-Wi-Fi snoop , Phorm's intercept programme and the government's loss of the entire child benefit database , to name but three.
In its defence the ICO would say governments have consistently refused its repeated demands to be given real, proactive rather than reactive, powers. ®
Send corrections
The new Office Garage series:
Enabling efficient data center monitoring
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
