The Information Commissioner's Office has warmly embraced the
introduction of the Criminal Justice Bill, which will give it the power
to issue heavy fines to organisations for deliberate or reckless
breaches of the Data Protection Act.
The Government's privacy watchdog has welcomed the introduction of
the Criminal Justice Bill, which will give it tough new powers to fine
businesses that breach the Data Protection Act.
The bill, which
received Royal Assent on Friday, will give the Information
Commissioner's Office (ICO) the power to impose substantial fines on
organisations that deliberately or recklessly breach data protection
laws.
"This new power will enable some of the worst breaches of
the Data Protection Act to be punished," said David Smith, deputy
information commissioner. "This change in the law sends a very clear
signal that data protection must be a priority and that it is
completely unacceptable to be cavalier with people's personal
information."
He added: "The prospect of substantial fines for
deliberate or reckless breaches of the Data Protection Principles will
act as a strong deterrent and help ensure that organisations take their
data protection obligations more seriously."
The ICO has called
repeatedly for greater powers, a wish which finally seems to have come
true. "We are very happy with what we've got," a spokesperson for the
ICO told SCMagazine.
Though the Bill has received Royal Assent,
the greater powers are yet to come into force. The date from which they
apply plus the level of fines which can be levied are yet to be
decided.