Download - DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
![Page 1: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
24/04/23 1
DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Important legislation relating to the storage and disclosure of
information
![Page 2: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
24/04/23 2
DATA PROTECTION ACT1998
• Act applies to specific activity of storing data NOT to any particular organisation
• Also applies to disclosure of information held.• Provides another possible route for
protection of privacy• Enforced by Information Commissioner• New General Data Protection Regulation in
2018
![Page 3: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
24/04/23 3
STORAGE OF DATA must comply with 8 data protection principles
• Fairly & lawfully processed• Processed for limited purposes• Adequate, relevant & not excessive• Accurate• Not kept longer than necessary• Processed in accordance with subject’s rights• Secure• Not transferred to countries without adequate
protection
![Page 4: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
24/04/23 4
What is covered?
• Information that is stored manually as well as electronically
• Definition of Data very wide• Myths about use• ‘nowhere does the act place blanket bars on
the disclosure of information’• Overuse & misuse - organisations may use
the DP legislation to avoid providing information.
![Page 5: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
24/04/23 5
Examples of wrongful disclosure • Croyden Council fined £100,000 – bag
containing confidential data stolen from public house
• UK Nursing & Midwifery Council received £150,000 penalty. Lost 3 DVDs related to a misconduct hearing. Contained confidential information. Had no policy for handling of such data e.g. re encryption.
• Department of Justice Northern Ireland fined £185,000 – sale of filing cabinet containing personal data
![Page 6: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
JANUARY 2015
• ‘Office’ – data breach exposed more than 1 million customer details – ICO orders an improvement to DP practices
• Staysure.co.uk Limited, an online insurance company, fined over £175,000 after IT security failings allowed hackers to access customer records.
24/04/23 6
![Page 7: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
2016
•Information Commissioner fined Prodial Ltd £350,000 for making over 46 million unsolicited marketing calls – one of the worst cases ever•Issued 3 enforcement notices against a network of companies – Advanced VOIP Ltd, Money Help Marketing Ltd & Preferred pensions LLP .Face legal action if breach notice. 24/04/23 7
![Page 8: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
24/04/23 8
Act affects media in 2 ways
• A. when a journalist acquires information to be put into a database the principles apply & whenever information is extracted and published etc = disclosure
And• B. as journalists process information they
may have problems complying with the privacy rights of anyone about whom they hold information
![Page 9: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
24/04/23 9
Some cases
• Naomi Campbell – claim under DP Act not discussed
• Douglas & Zeta-Jones (£50 each for breach) – ‘Hello’ tried to use exemption re photos but this rejected as no real Public Interest.
• Murray v Big Pictures (photos on CD Rom)• Stone v SE Coast Strategic Health Auth.
![Page 10: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
24/04/23 10
Journalistic Material (s.32)• Exemptions from:• The data protection principles (apart from
security)• Data subject access rights• Rights of data subjects to prevent data
processing• Rights of subjects to correct inaccuracies• Rights concerning automated decision
making
![Page 11: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
24/04/23 11
3 conditions must be met• 1. Processing is undertaken with a view to
publication of any journalistic, literary or artistic material (undefined in Act)
• 2. The Data Controller believes that having regard to the special importance of freedom of expression, publication is in the public interest
• 3. Data Controller reasonably believes that in all the circumstances compliance with provision in question is incompatible with the purposes of journalism.
![Page 12: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Unlawfully obtaining data
• It is an offence to unlawfully obtain data• Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
contains a new defence for journalists if they can show they acted with a view to publication of journalistic, literary or artistic material & in the reasonable belief that it was in the public interest to obtain/disclose information. NOT IN FORCE YET
24/04/23 12
![Page 13: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
24/04/23 13
Almost Finally….
• Court can take into account any relevant code of practice
• Note powers of Information Commissioner
• Appeal from IC to Information Tribunal.
![Page 14: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
…And Finally
• Note the recommendations in the Leveson Report to make it easier for police to seize material from journalists gained through their work.
• Proposal is to still require approval from judge but would no longer need to show that they had tried to acquire material elsewhere first.
24/04/23 14
![Page 15: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
24/04/23 15
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
• The dawning of a new age?• Working of Act monitored by Information
Commissioner – see website for details of latest decisions.
• FOI Act perceived as great benefit to investigative journalism. Advice on how to proceed on ICO site and also McNae’s online.
![Page 16: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
24/04/23 16
TRANSPARENCY & EXPOSURE
• ‘There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle which does not live by secrecy. Get these things out in the open, describe them, attack them, ridicule them in the press and sooner or later public opinion will sweep them away’
Joseph Pulitzer – newspaper owner
![Page 17: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Information discovered as a result of FOI
• In 2012 43,586,400 fake pound coins in circulation – check your change!
• Foreign Office spent £10,000 to carry out ‘essential maintenance’ on Albert the Snake – he was re-stuffed.
• MPs expenses/Immigration figures/A & E response times
• MOT car failures – the good cars vs. the bad cars
24/04/23 17
![Page 18: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
24/04/23 18
AN IMPORTANT TOOL..
• ..for journalists & anyone else wanting official information
• FOI and Environmental Regulations came into force 1stJan 2005
• Well over 100,000 public bodies affected• Gives general right of access to all types
of recorded information held by public bodies, sets out the exemptions & obligations
![Page 19: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
24/04/23 19
THE BASIC FOI RIGHT
• S 1(1) (a) - right to be informed in writing whether public authority holds the information requested
• S 1 (1) (b) – right to have that information communicated to the requester
• You do not have to give reason for request.
![Page 20: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
24/04/23 20
SCOPE OF THE RIGHT
• Request for information widely defined (s. 8)
• Limit to resources that must be expended (s.12) [Government would like to restrict access further – see CFOI site]
• Duty to advise & assist requesters (s.16 & s.45 Code of Practice)
![Page 21: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
24/04/23 21
EXEMPTIONS 1
• 23 EXEMPTIONS - 2 groups• a. Those that apply to a whole category of
information e.g. information re investigations & proceedings conducted by public authority, court records, trade secrets
If asked for this type of information then body can claim exemption without having to show that harm will result from disclosure
![Page 22: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
24/04/23 22
EXEMPTIONS & PUBLIC INTEREST
• b. those that are subject to prejudice test e.g. Where disclosure would prejudice or be likely to prejudice the interests of the UK or the prevention or detection of crime
• public interest test comes into play• Is it better to disclose or not to disclose?• Information Commissioner sets out
guidelines - but see VETO provision!
![Page 23: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
THE VETO – ‘a constitutional aberration’
• Included in Act as a last resort• Allows either prime minister or other
minister to veto information• Instances of use: • Iraq War papers• Prince Charles letters – SC rules in favour
of disclosure 26.03.15- See SC ruling.• High Speed Rail 2 report24/04/23 23
![Page 24: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
24/04/23 24
Freedom of information in Practice
• In 2009: Ministry of Justice• 17,822 requests• Information disclosed in full – 59%• Information withheld in full – 23%• Exemption used most often = personal
data (s.40) ( 3 times as often as nearest other)
• Cases can drag on a long time - See Sugar v BBC
![Page 25: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
24/04/23 25
Policy formulation & ministerial communication (s.35)
• Interests protected:• ‘thinking space’• Ministerial collective responsibility• Uninhibited discussion between ministers in a
formal setting – described as ‘essential’ by Min of Justice
• D f ES v IC & Evening Standard (UKIT EA/2006/0006)
• Cabinet Office v IC (UKIT EA/2010/0031) ( Westland Affair and Heseltine resignation 1986)
![Page 26: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
24/04/23 26
Private Information about individuals (s.40)
• Interests protected:-• Privacy• Unfair release of personal information• Sensitive personal data
• Release can be justified where there is a pressing social need
• House of Commons v IC (EA/2007/0060 & [2008] EWHC 1084 (Admin) – MPs expenses
![Page 27: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
24/04/23 27
Legally privileged information(s.42)
• Interests protected:• Confidentiality of communications between
lawyer & client• Administration of justice• Ability of clients to seek legal advice• BERR v O’Brien & ICO [2009] EWHC 164• Disclosure may serve public interest
where there has been wrongdoing
![Page 28: DATA PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022070502/568151b5550346895dbfe1cc/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
24/04/23 28
CONSEQUENCES FOR JOURNALISTS?
• The end of exclusives? The response will be publicly available so others may use it.
• Increased self-censorship by public bodies? Fewer minutes so that any paper trail will be reduced & information about decisions will not be available – see recent story about Downing Street emails
• Putting a price on information – FOI has created a bureaucracy that costs money - see above.
• The emergence of FOI specialists - will it divide journalists between the processors (‘churnalists’) and ‘proper’ investigative journalists?