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New information sharing guide published for authorities
The Information Commissioner’s Office has today published new guidance to help local authorities and other organisations understand their obligations under the Data Protection Act when sharing and using information about business people.
The ICO recognises that sharing and using information about business people and the businesses they run can be beneficial to local authorities and to business people. For example, sharing information could make life less administratively burdensome for business people. The Data Protection Act does not prevent an authority sharing information on business people. However, information sharing must not be done in a way that is unfair or detrimental to the individual.
Local authorities must recognise that some information held about business people will be more sensitive than other information, for example, information about their earnings. Authorities must therefore consider the way that this information is used or shared. Information that relates not just to a business activity but also a business person’s private life should also be considered more carefully.
Iain Bourne, Head of Data Protection Projects, said: “Sharing information on business people can clearly present benefits to businesses and society generally. We appreciate the need for local authorities to make best use of the information they hold and this guidance will help authorities make sensible judgements about how they use this information.”
The guidance also provides advice to local authorities regarding consent and transparency issues and what to do if a business person objects to their information being shared.
This good practice note is part of a series published by the Information Commissioner’s Office to help explain data protection in simple terms.
