Data protection watchdog to get tough on business

The UK’s data protection watchdog is to step up enforcement action on companies that flout the Data Protection Act.

David Smith, the newly appointed deputy information commissioner, said the organisation plans to focus its enforcement efforts on the worst offenders.

“Businesses that are not complying will find us turning the screws a bit harder and a bit earlier than we have done until now,” he said.

The crackdown would lead to more prosecutions of companies that knowingly break data protection laws, Smith said.

At the same time, the Information Commissioner’s Office plans to make it easier for firms to comply with regulations, by issuing simplified guidelines.

Smith plans to work more closely with businesses to ensure the watchdog can address their concerns. He is evaluating plans to set up a stakeholder forum for businesses, which will feed into the work of the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

“In many areas, guidance is more effective if it is produced by industry bodies rather than the regulator,” he said.

“We will work with them; they know better what their problems are and how to put messages over to their members in a way which is meaningful.”