The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has set out a raft of new measures that it says will support the Government’s growth agenda.
Information Commissioner John Edwards met with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves on Monday to agree on the data protection regulator’s commitments.
“Personal data powers our economy, from retail to hospitality to healthcare,” he said.
“Unlocking the potential of this data is key to encouraging economic growth and investment – as long as the public can trust it will be appropriately protected.
“There’s a responsibility on all regulators to create an environment where businesses can flourish, particularly for the ICO as a whole economy regulator.
“We’ve already helped tens of thousands of businesses and we’re providing the regulatory certainty and support that they need to safely innovate.”
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The ICO has committed to a number of new measures. These include publishing a free data essentials training programme for small businesses, supporting them to leverage the power of personal data and strengthen customer trust and helping them save at least £9.1m over three years.
It will also pilot an experimentation regime which aims to enable businesses to trial innovative new data-driven solutions under rigorous oversight.
A statutory code of practice will be introduced for private and public sector businesses developing or deploying AI, allowing them to unleash the possibilities of the technology while safeguarding the public’s privacy and strengthening the UK’s position as a global AI leader.
New guidance on international transfers of data will be published as it underpins around 40 per cent of UK exports and 20 per cent of imports. The ICO wants to make it easier for UK businesses to access new markets.