WIREDGOV

The ICO now has the power to issue a monetary penalty for serious breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. The powers allow us to issue the worst offenders with a monetary penalty of up to £500,000. The ICO currently has a team dedicated to enforcing these Regulations and is actively pursuing specific cases.

In March this year, the ICO introduced a web based form that allows individuals to report their concerns. So far around 12,000 individuals have responded and the ICO is using this information to trace the companies responsible for making these unwanted calls and to build up a picture of how this industry is operating.

The ICO is actively pursuing organisations that are the subject of frequent complaints, yet claim to only contact individuals with their consent. We are asking these organisations to provide us with proof that they are complying with the law.

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. Our press office page provides more information for journalists.

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