Information Commissioner launches ICO Practitioner Award for Excellence in Data Protection

26 Jan 2018 02:45 PM

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is marking Data Protection Day by launching an award to recognise excellence in the field of information rights.

Sunday 28 January, 2018, is the 12th annual Data Protection Day and has particular significance this year as new data protection legislation – the GDPR – comes into effect this May and there should be a new Data Protection Act in force then too.

To celebrate, the ICO is introducing the ICO Practitioner Award for Excellence in Data Protection to recognise those practitioners who go above and beyond when it comes to data protection.

Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner, said:

“Data Protection Day is the perfect time to launch this award for practitioners who have made a real difference to how their organisations approach data protection. 

“As we approach the GDPR and new UK law taking effect, it has been clear there are many success stories out there when it comes to individuals embedding a positive data protection culture in their organisation.

“I look forward to announcing the winner at our annual Data Protection Practitioner’s Conference on 9 April.”

More details about the awards and how to enter can be found here. Contenders will likely be those who have shown inspiring data protection practice and leadership, particularly in the areas of accountability and privacy by design, and have made good use of the resources available from the ICO to help organisations live up to their obligations and inspire public trust and confidence in how they handle personal information.

The ICO’s website is packed full of resources, with over one million views of its Guide to the GDPR, as well as 170,000 views of its GDPR myth busting blog posts and thousands of views of its GDPR FAQs and 12 steps guide.

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.
  1. 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.
  1. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new law that will replace the Data Protection Act 1998 and will apply in the UK from 25 May 2018. The government has confirmed that the UK’s decision to leave the EU will not affect the commencement of the GDPR.
  1. The ICO can take action to change the behaviour of organisations and individuals that collect, use and keep personal information. This includes criminal prosecution, non-criminal enforcement and audit. The ICO has the power to impose a monetary penalty on a data controller of up to £500,000.
  1. Anyone who processes personal information must comply with eight principles of the Data Protection Act, which make sure that personal information is:
  1. To report a concern to the ICO telephone our helpline 0303 123 1113 or go to ico.org.uk/concerns/