Startup-Manifesto

Bring laws and regulations into the 21st Century
16
COMMIT MORE RESOURCES TO THE INFORMATION
COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE (ICO)
A strong and appropriately resourced data protection authority is
vital both to allow it to stand up for consumers, and to provide clear
advice to businesses.
It is a good thing for startups, and businesses in general, for there to
be a credible data protection authority and public confidence in the
data protection regime. Currently the UK’s data protection authority
is struggling to cope with the demands placed upon it, and this is
likely to get worse in the future. Issues of data protection and privacy
are increasingly important as more of our lives move online. The rise
of wearables and the internet of things are only going to accelerate
this trend.
In his most recent Annual Report, Christopher Graham, the
Information Commissioner and head of the UK’s data protection
authority (the ICO), warned that:
‘in order to be an effective partner in delivering modern and
innovative services, the ICO needs stronger powers, a more
sustainable funding system, and a clearer guarantee of
independence… our grant-in-aid from the Ministry of Justice,
which has been cut in every year since I became Information
Commissioner in 2009, is simply not adequate for us to do the
work we could and should be doing to promote greater efficiency
and accountability in the public service.’ 72
The next government, in consultation with the ICO, should ensure
the Commissioner has the resources needed.
17
CREATE A FRAMEWORK FOR DATA PROTECTION
THAT GIVES CONFIDENCE TO CONSUMERS AND
DOES NOT STIFLE INNOVATION
A clear data protection framework is vital for both consumers and for
business. Proposals tto update the EU’s data protection framework
(which currently dates back to 1995) are welcome and overdue.
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