The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced that Stephen Almond has become its new director of technology and innovation.
He has joined the organisation from the World Economic Forum, where he worked with governments and technology firms to promote an agile, innovation enabling approach to regulation.
Prior to that, he spent two years as head of strategy and innovation at the Better Regulation Executive in the Department for Business, Energy, Industry and Strategy, where he led the team that developed the UK’s white paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Simon McDougall, ICO deputy commissioner for regulatory innovation and technology, said: “I am delighted to welcome Stephen to the ICO’s technology team. His previous experience will be invaluable as the ICO works to support a secure and thriving digital economy in the UK.
“The department is central to ensuring information rights regulation keeps pace with technological advancements. The team continues to grow, and I would encourage anyone with technology experience to visit our recruitment pages.”
The ICO’s technology and innovation directorate has recently worked on projects such as Covid-19 contact tracing, privacy preserving machine learning and the design of a safer internet for young people.
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