ICO 2024 – a year in review

As 2024 comes to a close, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is reflecting on a successful year of effecting change to protect people’s information rights and guide organisations to continually improve to meet their legal obligations. 
The ICO is the UK’s independent regulator…

Our response to Google’s policy change on fingerprinting

Stephen Almond is the ICO’s executive director of regulatory risk.

Yesterday, Google announced to organisations that use its advertising products, that from 16 February 2025, it will no longer prohibit them from employing fingerprinting techniques. Our response is clear:…

Update on changes to our services for businesses

In October, we announced that we were piloting a new approach to providing business advice as part of our commitment to modernising our services and investing in tools that give businesses better access to support.

Transparency must be the default position for water companies

Public interest in water companies is higher than ever, with firms across the UK facing scrutiny over sewage discharges into lakes, rivers and the sea. Concerns about sewage pollution are mounting, as people have no choice but to rely on these companies. The lack of readily available information and the reticence of water companies to disclose information about their activities has significantly dented the public’s confidence.