John Edwards takes the reins at the UK's data protection watchdog
(2022/01/04)
- Reference: 1641304693
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/01/04/edwards_ico/
- Source link:
The Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed that former New Zealand privacy commissioner John Edwards has started his new role as the UK's Information Commissioner.
Top of his in-tray will be helping the government square the EU's data protection rules with its desire to create a new, [1]more "pro-innovation" regime .
Well before he started his new job, Edwards promised it could be done. "The United Kingdom is entitled to take Fleetwood Mac's advice and 'Go your Own Way'," he said in September, citing the soft rock supergroup. "Ensuring the mutual respect of different legal and cultural traditions… lead to different expressions of the same objective," [2]he said .
[3]
While legal experts have warned of the dangers of the UK straying too far from the EU's General Data Protection Directive – or risking the adequacy decision which currently allows data sharing between the UK and the EU to support business as usual – his message is don't stop believing.
[4]
[5]
According to a pre-canned quote announcing his official arrival, he sees his role as working "with those to whom we entrust our data so they are able to respect our privacy with ease whilst still reaping the benefits of data-driven innovation," a line very much in step with the government's desire to " [6]create a more pro-growth and pro-innovation data regime ."
The government's consultation on its new proposals for new data protection laws has also [7]provoked alarm among data privacy and ethics campaigners based on its proposals to remove individual's rights to challenge decisions made about them by AI.
[8]
The chorus of disapproval was joined by UK's National Data Guardian, who oversees how health data can be used in the UK, [9]who expressed "significant concerns" about the proposals .
Edwards succeeds Elizabeth Denham CBE, whose term as UK Information Commissioner ended last year. In the role since 2016, Denham used her last months to [10]offer a warning about the future independence of the ICO.
[11]Outgoing UK Information Commissioner issues warning about the independence of her office
[12]UK promises big data law shake-up... while also keeping the EU happy, of course. What could go wrong?
[13]You can 'go your own way' over GDPR, says UK's new Information Commissioner
[14]UK data guardian challenges government proposals on automated decision-making
"Despite... broad support for the proposals to reform the ICO's constitution, there are some important specific proposals where I have strong concerns because of their risk to regulatory independence," Denham said in October.
"For the future ICO to be able to hold the government to account, it is vital its governance model preserves its independence and is workable, within the context of the framework set by Parliament and with effective accountability."
Edwards was unable to quash the, erm, rumoursreally? – ed] that the ICO's independence was under threat, but did say: "Privacy is a right, not a privilege. In a world where our personal data can drive everything from the healthcare we receive to the job opportunities we see, we all deserve to have our data treated with respect."
Top of his in-tray will be helping the government square the EU's data protection rules with its desire to create a new, [1]more "pro-innovation" regime .
Well before he started his new job, Edwards promised it could be done. "The United Kingdom is entitled to take Fleetwood Mac's advice and 'Go your Own Way'," he said in September, citing the soft rock supergroup. "Ensuring the mutual respect of different legal and cultural traditions… lead to different expressions of the same objective," [2]he said .
[3]
While legal experts have warned of the dangers of the UK straying too far from the EU's General Data Protection Directive – or risking the adequacy decision which currently allows data sharing between the UK and the EU to support business as usual – his message is don't stop believing.
[4]
[5]
According to a pre-canned quote announcing his official arrival, he sees his role as working "with those to whom we entrust our data so they are able to respect our privacy with ease whilst still reaping the benefits of data-driven innovation," a line very much in step with the government's desire to " [6]create a more pro-growth and pro-innovation data regime ."
The government's consultation on its new proposals for new data protection laws has also [7]provoked alarm among data privacy and ethics campaigners based on its proposals to remove individual's rights to challenge decisions made about them by AI.
[8]
The chorus of disapproval was joined by UK's National Data Guardian, who oversees how health data can be used in the UK, [9]who expressed "significant concerns" about the proposals .
Edwards succeeds Elizabeth Denham CBE, whose term as UK Information Commissioner ended last year. In the role since 2016, Denham used her last months to [10]offer a warning about the future independence of the ICO.
[11]Outgoing UK Information Commissioner issues warning about the independence of her office
[12]UK promises big data law shake-up... while also keeping the EU happy, of course. What could go wrong?
[13]You can 'go your own way' over GDPR, says UK's new Information Commissioner
[14]UK data guardian challenges government proposals on automated decision-making
"Despite... broad support for the proposals to reform the ICO's constitution, there are some important specific proposals where I have strong concerns because of their risk to regulatory independence," Denham said in October.
"For the future ICO to be able to hold the government to account, it is vital its governance model preserves its independence and is workable, within the context of the framework set by Parliament and with effective accountability."
Edwards was unable to quash the, erm, rumours
really? – ed] that the ICO's independence was under threat, but did say: "Privacy is a right, not a privilege. In a world where our personal data can drive everything from the healthcare we receive to the job opportunities we see, we all deserve to have our data treated with respect."
[15]
In 2022, the ICO said it is due to "actively engage" with the government over the proposed reforms to the Data Protection Act. Whether it's a government that trades in "sweet little lies" we'll leave for others to observe. ®
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[1] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/26/uk_privacy_law_shakeup_information_commissioner/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/13/new_uk_ico_promises_to/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YdR9Q@XWfSDHPpeygl10rAAAAEM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YdR9Q@XWfSDHPpeygl10rAAAAEM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YdR9Q@XWfSDHPpeygl10rAAAAEM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1022315/Data_Reform_Consultation_Document__Accessible_.pdf
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/10/right_to_contest_automated_ai_uk_consult/
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YdR9Q@XWfSDHPpeygl10rAAAAEM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/23/uk_automated_decision_making/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/07/outgoing_ico_warns_independence_of_role/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/07/outgoing_ico_warns_independence_of_role/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/26/uk_privacy_law_shakeup_information_commissioner/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/13/new_uk_ico_promises_to/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/23/uk_automated_decision_making/
[15] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YdR9Q@XWfSDHPpeygl10rAAAAEM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: ''more "pro-innovation" regime.''
Anonymous Coward
You're absolutely right, but for what it's worth Edwards has a pretty decent rep for taking a much more balanced approach than you might expect given which government has appointed him and the conditions under which he has been appointed.
Ultimately the person running ICO is moot. Denham was a true privacy crusader but her hands were tied by weak laws and no capacity to enforce them - having someone more or less intent on saying the right things won't change that. Whatever compliance with the UK's Data Protection Act 2018 (née GDPR) exists does so largely by consent and voluntary compliance.
Our main worry should be what changes are going to be made to it, not the attitudes of the man running the organisation that enforces it.
Fleetwood Mac
tiggity
Not sure Fleetwood Mac "Go your own way" reference inspires confidence, given how the band was renowned for internal conflict / splits and for going TITSUP*
*Total inability to support unchanging personnel
Don't risk a breach....
spold
...or the gang will be 'round giving you the Haka.
Scott Broukell
In this country (UK), I fully expect that the term " Data Privacy is a right" does in fact mean that all your (our) data will be harvested and put into Private Hands, where it will be traded, exploited and mis-used in all manner of ways imaginable and great riches will be made by a select few - right!
''more "pro-innovation" regime.''
That often seems to mean "getting rid of pesky red tape" while glossing over why the red tape was there in the first place.
Red tape is often brought in after something bad has happened to prevent reoccurrence ... then, decades later, it is denounced as slowing business. But all those who were alive when the original bad thing happened are dead, so the red tape is removed and a few years later history repeats itself when bad thing happens again.