The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and communications regulator Ofcom have said they will work together more closely to ensure coherence between new regimes for data protection and online safety.
They have issued a joint statement in anticipation of Ofcom taking on new duties in 2023 under the Online Safety Bill.
It emphasised the need to ensure the two organisations’ policies are consistent with each other’s regulatory requirements – with the intent to consult closely when preparing plans and guidance – and to find solutions that preserve the safety and privacy of the users of online services.
It also pointed towards setting clear expectation for industry on what must be done to meet requirements on online safety and data protection – with the threat of action against organisations that do not meet their obligations.
Privacy and safety
“We want to see organisations design their online services with both privacy and safety in mind. There are strong synergies between these objectives,” statement said, adding:
“The ICO and Ofcom have worked effectively together for many years. We share similar principles in our approach to regulation: transparency, accountability, proportionality and consistency, and a commitment to taking action where it is most needed. By aligning our approaches, we believe we can safeguard people more effectively while also minimising the cost of compliance with our regimes.”
The two organisations have worked together for several years, with the collaboration having deepened in 2020 when the ICO launched the Children's code and Ofcom took on powers to regulate UK video sharing platforms.
