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The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has begun its public consultation on new guidance on data protection and the media.

The draft guidance has been developed following Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendation that the Information Commissioner develops specific and comprehensive guidance on the application of the Data Protection Act to the press. The final version of the guidance will help those working in the media to understand and comply with data protection law and good practice.

The deadline for responses to the consultation on the draft guidance is 22 April 2014 and further details can be found on the consultations section of the ICO website.

Announcing the start of the consultation the Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham said:

“After speaking with journalists from a broad range of media outlets we are now inviting people from all areas of society to read our draft guidance on how the Data Protection Act applies to the media and provide us with their views.

“The guidance follows Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendations and aims to help journalists comply with the Act. This includes providing clear advice explaining how the existing exemption for journalism applies when working on stories that carry a clear public interest.”

The draft document follows a workshop held in September 2013 where journalists and editors from a broad cross-section of the media were invited to provide insight into journalistic processes and discuss how they interact with the Data Protection Act. The consultation will be supported by two further workshops with key stakeholder groups from within and outside the media industry in February.

Notes to Editors

1. The Information Commissioner’s Office upholds information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.

2. The ICO has specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.

3. The ICO is on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and produces a monthly e-newsletter.

4. Anyone who processes personal information must comply with eight principles of the Data Protection Act, which make sure that personal information is:

• Fairly and lawfully processed
• Processed for limited purposes
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Accurate and up to date
• Not kept for longer than is necessary
• Processed in line with your rights
• Secure
• Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection

5. If you need more information, please contact the ICO press office on 0303 123 9070.