UK data protection officers are meeting in Manchester
today to address some of the key
data protectionchallenges facing
organisations.
Delegates will examine how data protection officers can
encourage organisations to adopt appropriate security measures when
working with personal information.
The meeting, hosted by the
Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), will also see the
launch of the ICO's data protection strategy.
The strategy, aimed at minimising data protection risk, explains
how the ICO will focus its resources on situations where there is
greatest risk of harm to individuals through improper use of their
personal information.
David Smith, deputy commissioner, said as increasing numbers of
organisations are collecting more personal information, it was
essential that effective data protection policies and practices
were in place.
"Vigilance and strong leadership are needed at the highest level
in all organisations to ensure data protection is taken seriously,"
he said.
Speakers at the meeting include Richard Thomas, information
commissioner, and Michael Wills, MP, minister of state at the
Ministry of Justice.
Last week, the information commissioner met prime minister
Gordon Brown to discuss prison sentences for data protection
offences. Thomas said the meeting focussed on why data protection
needed to be moved up the government's agenda.