Information Commissioner’s Office updates regulatory approach amid coronavirus (COVID-19)

Article summary

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has updated its regulatory approach in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The paper follows a further review and outlines how the ICO will regulate, particularly focusing on data protection and freedom of information laws. The paper outlines the ICO’s general commitment to ‘an empathetic and pragmatic approach, focusing on issues of greatest risk’ and aims to demonstrate this through its actions. The paper also discusses engagement with the public and organisations, regulatory action, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004, SI 2004/3391. The Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, has also issued an open letter to UK organisations highlighting the update that has been made to the ICO’s regulatory approach document.