Public records

• The latest version of the software enables end-to-end management of physical and electronic documents and records while retaining their integrity and authenticity.
• It enables indexing, archival, movement tracking, and search of documents and helps define the filing, retention, and preservation rules for records.
• "In times when paper-based records are becoming irrelevant and organizations are embracing a digital-only environment, it is critical to have an efficient records management system.
• The enhanced version of our records management software will help organizations simplify the process of managing business-critical records while maintaining security and ensuring regulatory compliance.

• SAN DIEGO, July 23, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A new Information Governance (IG) certification has been launched for top IG professionals.
• The Certified Information Governance Officers Association (CIGOA) has announced the availability of the CIGO certification credential, with training and testing for the inaugural class to take place in August 2020.
• "This is a much-needed certification to unite and advance the IG marketplace, while providing an objective assessment of IG professionals for employers," stated Robert Smallwood, CEO of 'IG World' magazine, and Chair of the CIGO Association Board of Governors.
• "The new CIGO certification answers the long-overdue need for a comprehensive curriculum reflecting the full diversity and complexity of the domain of information governance," stated Dennis Kessler, Head of Data Governance for the European Investment Bank, and a member of the CIGO Board of Governors.

Colleagues from the ICO’s FOI Directorate share their experiences and involvement in raising awareness of our regulation of access to information legislation.

FOI and coronavirus – preparing for recovery (17 July 2020)

• As the UKs response to COVID-19 continues to evolve towards recovery we have made changes to our adapted regulatory approach.
• To help with this we have launched an FOI toolkitdesigned to help public authorities self-assess performance in responding to FOI requests.
• We hope the toolkit will become a staple part of FOI practitioners continual learning and that it will promote good practice.
• We would also like to thank the Scottish Information Commissioner and his team for their assistance during the toolkits development stage.

How we will regulate freedom of information during coronavirus

• As the coronavirus crisis began to take hold, we blogged about the unprecedented challenges facing public authorities and how redirecting resources and switching priorities would impact on their compliance with freedom of information.
• The ICO has published a document setting out our regulatory approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• We will continue to support transparency in public decision making but our regulation of freedom of information must be pragmatic and empathetic during the pandemic.

FOI and the coronavirus: a measured approach

• In particular we understand that resources, whether they are finances or people, may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights work.
• Whilst we cant extend statutory timescales, we will not be penalising public authorities for prioritising other areas or adapting their usual approach during this extraordinary period.
• We are a reasonable and pragmatic regulator, one that does not operate in isolation from matters of serious public concern.

Further Reading

What you hear, what you know - addressing common misconceptions of FOIA and EIR

Those of us working in public authorities have become accustomed to the processes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but the law may still seem complex for many members of the general public, so we need to be mindful of that when responding to people who make requests. This blog post sets out some common public misconceptions and explains how we can smooth the path for people wishing to exercise their information rights.

What you hear

I can use the Freedom of Information Act to request information from any organisation that receives public funding.

What you know

Just because you receive public funds, doesn’t mean you’re a public authority that falls within scope of the FOIA. Under FOIA, ‘public authority’ means any organisation listed in Schedule 1, designated under section 5 or a publicly-owned company as defined by section 6. Remember the FOIA may apply to information in the possession of other organisations, like contractors, who hold it on behalf of a public authority.

What you hear

The Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations can give me access to my personal data.

What you know

• As a public authority, you should explain that you need to handle this as a data protection subject access request under data protection legislation.
• Remember, personal information about a third party can be requested under FOIA or EIR, but you must consider whether disclosure of third party personal data would contravene data protection legislation.

What you hear

I want to make a request for information but I need to know if I use FOIA or EIR first.

What you know

You can’t refuse to deal with someone’s request simply because they don’t know which law to follow. It is your responsibility to process the request under the correct regime, and you should let the individual know which one their request falls under. You should also make it known, perhaps via your website, that people do not need to specify which regime they are making their request under.

What you hear

I’m only going to receive information from a public authority in the format that it was originally recorded.

What you know

• What is reasonably practicable will depend on factors such as how the information is held, the cost of complying with the preference, your resources and security.
• You may also charge a fee to cover the cost of communicating the information.
• If youre not communicating the information by the preferred means, it is good practice to discuss this with the individual to find an acceptable alternative.

ICO attends the second ICIC FOI case handling workshop

• Update from our peers:
  • The Freedom of Information Act 2018 will soon be enacted in Gibraltar. Some key differences to our legislation include applicants must be over 18 and a resident of Gibraltar, an applicant must specify that the request is being made under the Freedom of Information Act and there is an application fee for making a request. The legislation does not currently have a cost limit threshold (similar to section 12 FOIA) however this is currently under discussion.
  • In Slovenia responses can be extended to 30 working days where ‘third party’ interests are involved to allow consultation on disclosure / the application of exceptions. When investigating complaints, Slovenian colleagues have the power to inspect and search premises and fines can be imposed if a body does not comply with an investigation or decision. There is no tribunal process to appeal a decision, if a body disagrees with a decision they can only challenge this through the courts.
  • The Cayman Islands highlighted a real culture shift to a much more pro-active release of information such as travel expenses and meeting minutes. In this jurisdiction, it was however interesting to hear that requests can be made using pseudonyms and that 80% of requests come from the media.
  • Hungary delivered an interesting presentation on the impact of the requirements of disclosure of information under other pieces of legislation and how this sits with its Freedom of Information law.
  • The Philippines explained that despite not having FOI legislation, almost all agencies implemented FOI and that they are currently in the process of applying to join the ICIC.
  • Hosted by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, the annual workshop provides an opportunity for different jurisdictions across the globe to share working practices and ideas.
  • ICO colleagues in attendance provide an overview of the event.
  • During the two day workshop a number of presentations, Q&A sessions, group discussions, and case studies took place and it was interesting to hear the similarities, but also the differences between the various information access regimes.
  • We found a common theme was a number of the jurisdictions use our external FOI guidance to support the creation of their own lines to take and guidance.
  • The ICO has recently been accepted as a member of the ICIC something that we would encourage all of our international colleagues to look into doing.

ICO accepted as an International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) member

• Gill Bull, the ICOs Director of Freedom of Information Complaints and Compliance, notes a further milestone as the ICO is formally accepted as a member of the ICIC.
• Were delighted to start the decade by being formally accepted as a member to the ICIC, the global network that fosters the protection and promotion of access to information.
• Indeed in her recent speech for Mexico Citys National Transparency Week conference, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said: Access to information is a growing right.
• By sharing our experience and expertise internationally we guard against that.Such a responsibility is an important part of the work of the International Conference of Information Commissioners the ICIC.
• We are a collective voice in the international community, raising awareness of issues that impact upon access to public informationCrucially, we discuss how to bring information access statute to life.
• Such a responsibility is an important part of the work of the International Conference of Information Commissioners the ICIC.
• We are a collective voice in the international community, raising awareness of issues that impact upon access to public information Crucially, we discuss how to bring information access statute to life.
• How are we working with people requesting information, to make the process as straightforward as possible?


We look forward to working with our international colleagues in the pursuit of protecting and promoting access to public information. We also encourage other Information Commissioners to join the growing ranks of the ICIC. It’s easy to do and further information is on the ICIC website.

Access to Information in Turbulent Times

• This is the first in a series of blog posts covering our regulation of access to information legislation.
• I wanted to use the lecture to reflect on the many intersections between the work of archivists and access to information within the context of everyday FOI.
• And of course I began by challenging the view that access to information can be seen as a dry topic and one that is principally about systems.
• I spoke about the role that access to information has in creating trust and in democracy itself and quoted UNESCOs Guy Berger who described access to information as an issue that goes with the grain of history.
• I questioned whether we need to develop some new framing for access to information rights.
• If were a public authority, its the publics information and while there will always be a request and receive aspect of access to information rights, I queried whether we need to start talking about a more fundamental duty to provide information.

• HOBOKEN, N.J., July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --Messaging Architects, an eMazzanti Technologies Company and information governance consultant , shares the role of information governance in creating an effective COVID-19 digital transformation roadmap in a new article on the Messaging Architects website.
• Below are a few excerpts from the article, " Navigate the COVID-19 Digital Transformation with Solid Information Governance ."
• "Your digital transformation roadmap and information governance policy must address both structured and unstructured data.
• With decades of experience, its IG consultants help business leaders develop COVID-19 digital transformation roadmaps based on solid information governance principles.