PolicyNet

Events

PolicyNet Meeting

20th April 2006 - Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner.

On April 20th, Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, spoke to PolicyNet on ‘Technology and Privacy – The Information Commissioner’s Perspective’. He explained that his role as Information Commissioner was to protect individual rights – by increasing the individual’s access to information about public sector organisations through the Freedom of Information Act, and by protecting information about an individual through the Data Protection Act. The major theme of his talk was how emerging technologies impact on the protection of those rights. He explained that technology could be used to protect these rights, and that his office is about to publish guidance on Privacy Enhancing Technologies. However, he pointed out that other technologies could infringe upon those rights – a high-profile example being RFID tags. However, it is only in the use of these technologies that privacy comes under threat, and his office is currently producing guidance for both consumers and RFID operators, to ensure that they are used in an acceptable way.

A lively discussion session followed, with the Commissioner answering questions on topics including the possibility of forecasting changes in technology, the impact of ubiquitous computing on privacy, and his view on Government initiatives which might impact on privacy, such as the NHS database project and the ID cards bill. The Commissioner’s answers showed that his role was not to stop such technologies or bills, but to ensure such technologies were used, and such bills were enacted in a way that respected the individual’s right to privacy.

 

Updated July 2012

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