In ICO25, the ICO sets out a commitment to safeguard the information rights of the most vulnerable, including regulatory work around children’s privacy, AI-driven discrimination, the use of algorithms within the benefits system and the impact of predatory marketing calls.

The ICO25 plan sets out how the ICO will regulate and prioritise work over the next three years. The accompanying action plan setting out the focus for the year ahead includes the following:

• looking at the impact of predatory marketing calls;
• looking at the use of algorithms within the benefits system;
• considering the impact the use AI in recruitment could be having on neurodiverse people or ethnic minorities, who were not part of the testing for this software; and
• ongoing support of children’s privacy.

The plan also emphasises the importance of certainty and flexibility for business, announcing a package of actions to help save businesses at least £100 million across the next three years. To achieve this the ICO will:

• publish internal data protection and freedom of information training materials;
• create a database of ICO advice provided to organisations and the public;
• produce a range of templates to help organisations develop their own approaches;
• create an ICO moderated platform for organisations to discuss and debate compliance and share information and advice;
• develop a range of “data essentials” training, specifically aimed at SMEs whose involvement with data protection is a by-product of their core activity; and
• set up iAdvice to offer early support for innovators.

The plan also sets out support for the public sector, including a revised approach to public sector fines and the creation of a cross Whitehall Senior Leadership Group to drive compliance and high standards of information across government departments.

Further, the plan sets out the ICO’s commitment to supporting the development of modern freedom of information, including prioritising FOI complaints and a greater emphasis on dispute resolution around complaints. To read the ICO’s press release in full and to access ICO25, click here.