Organisations must consider the impact on individuals'
privacy before developing new IT systems or changing the way they
handle personal information, theInformation Commissioner's
Office(ICO) has demanded.
At a conference on the "surveillance society" in Manchester, the
ICO said the
breach at HM Revenue and Customs was a watershed and has called
for organisations to implement new safeguards to help protect
individuals' privacy.
The UK's first privacy impact assessment handbook has been
launched by the ICO, to help organisations address the risks to
personal privacy before implementing new initiatives and
technologies.
By carrying out a privacy impact assessment organisations will
also increase public confidence in data collection, said the
ICO.
David Smith, deputy commissioner at the ICO, said, "Very often
the collection and use of personal information is essential and
beneficial to modern life, but many people do not realise that data
collection is at the heart of surveillance.
"Each time someone gives away their personal information they
leave electronic footprints which build up a picture of every
aspect of their daily lives."
Smith said, "It is essential that before introducing new systems
and technologies, which could accelerate the growth of a
surveillance society, full consideration is given to the impact on
individuals and that safeguards are in place to minimise
intrusion.
"Privacy impact assessments are a common sense approach to help
organisations develop privacy friendly ways of working."