The UK’s Data Protection Regulator begins its modernisation plans

The UK’s Data Protection Regulator begins its modernisation plans

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s data protection regulator and it announced on 09 October that from 11 of October, it will be piloting changes to the way it provides support to businesses.

One of the first changes includes removing the ability for organisations to make inbound calls the ICO phone line for advice and clarity. The ICO states that “Instead of first calling [their] phone line, businesses can access a wide and growing range of online resources to get the certainty they need on any data protection concerns. [The ICO’s] expert advisers will still be on hand to provide businesses with additional support via the live chat facility and outbound calls.”

Heading Test

This comes after the ICO’s Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference held on 08 October and before the new UK Labour Government’s introduction of the Digital Information and Smart Data (DISD) Bill – which includes an aim to strengthen the ICO’s powers and target reform to some data laws. The DISD Bill aims to transform the ICO into a more modern regulatory structure, with a CEO, board and chair with new, stronger powers. This will be accompanied by targeted reforms to some data laws that will maintain high standards of protection but where there is currently a lack of clarity impeding the safe development and deployment of some new technologies. It will also promote standards for digital identities around privacy, security and inclusion.

The removal of the ability to call the ICO phone line for advice may impact an organisations ability to understand the ICO’s expectations when complying with data protection laws especially where the ICO’s online guidance is not always clear.

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Link to the ICO’s statement: https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/10/changes-to-our-services-for-businesses/

AUTHORS

Charlie Leveque Co-Managing Partner

Charlie is the firm’s co-managing partner and head of the corporate practice.

Charlie is the firm’s co-managing partner and head of the corporate practice.

Outside of his management roles, Charlie advises on a wide range of corporate transactions from private and public mergers and acquisitions to investments, joint ventures, fundraisings and shareholder arrangements involving private equity, venture capital, family office and strategic parties. He has advised on a number of IPOs on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

His clients comprise investors, funds and companies of all sizes, from start-ups to international corporations in a wide range of industries; he is particularly experienced in advising clients in the technology, media, entertainment, retail and leisure sectors. He is also passionate about advising entrepreneurs, accompanying them from the inception of their ideas to exit.

Charlie is a member of the British Screen Advisory Council and the EIS Association.

Alex Gays Associate

Alex advises clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters in the technology, media and entertainment sectors.

Alex advises clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters in the technology, media and entertainment sectors.

Alex has a particular interest and expertise in the creative industries, often assisting founders, entrepreneurs and well-known individuals and brands.

He has experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, financings, fundraises from pre-seed to Series A and beyond, shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, incentivisation schemes (including EMI options) and corporate restructurings.

In addition, Alex has experience working with UHNW clients, international individuals and their families.

Clients describe Alex as “extraordinary” and “stand out amongst all counsels we have used internationally.”

Alex was seconded to the Virgin Group legal team where he supported a number of functions across the business. Alex worked closely with Virgin’s investment group, charitable foundation, Virgin Unite, and not for profit organisation, Virgin StartUp.

Alex spent part of his training contract working in-house for the multi-family office arm of an independent investment group in London serving UHNW clients, which included time spent working in the Cayman Islands.

Alex also has experience working in other offshore jurisdictions.