ICO 40 | ICO

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sm:pb-3.5 md:pb-6 mb-2 sm:mb-3.5 md:mb-5"> <div class="md:flex md:items-center"> <h1 class="py-0.5 font-serif leading-none sm:border-l-10 sm:pl-3 text-serif-2xl sm:text-serif-3xl border-theme-blue">ICO 40</h1> <div class="md:pl-2 md:ml-auto mt-2 md:mt-2 print:hidden"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="umb-block-grid" data-grid-columns="12;" style="--umb-block-grid--grid-columns: 12;"> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-container"> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-item" data-content-element-type-alias="headingBlock" data-content-element-type-key="6791e4e8-9a8f-4052-ac61-a19b1d400d6c" data-element-udi="umb://element/bb79759f2b40496bbc0743a8178851b1" data-col-span="12" data-row-span="1" style=" --umb-block-grid--item-column-span: 12; --umb-block-grid--item-row-span: 1; "> <heading-text x-text="Our lives, our privacy: the 40 items that shaped 40 years of privacy rights"></heading-text> </div> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-item" data-content-element-type-alias="richTextBlock" data-content-element-type-key="d7ec1d8a-2a00-439e-95b4-9f3537f5ece4" data-element-udi="umb://element/13b5e978c09f45e0a6c09e70f5624a0c" data-col-span="12" data-row-span="1" style=" --umb-block-grid--item-column-span: 12; --umb-block-grid--item-row-span: 1; "> <div class="prose prose-sm md:prose-base prose-h2:font-serif sm:prose-h2:border-l-10 sm:prose-h2:pl-3 sm:prose-h2:-ml-3 sm:prose-h2:relative sm:prose-h2:left-[-10px] prose-h3:font-serif sm:prose-lead:border-l-10 sm:prose-lead:pl-3 sm:prose-lead:-ml-3 sm:prose-lead:relative sm:prose-lead:left-[-10px] prose-hr:my-4 prose-h2:border-theme-blue-light prose-lead:border-theme-blue-light prose-theme-blue sm:ml-[10px] sm:pl-3"> <p>It’s 1984. The year of the first Apple Mac, the discovery of DNA fingerprint testing, AI running havoc in The Terminator and, in the UK, a new law has come into effect which gives people the right to access their own personal information held by others.</p> <p>In a small office near Manchester, the ICO was founded as the UK’s data protection regulator, responsible for overseeing the new Data Protection Act and upholding your rights. We’ve witnessed a lot of change over the past 40 years, from the launch of social media to new laws giving you the right to access information. And yet, in many ways, very little has changed. The use of our personal information can either improve our lives or cause us harm.</p> <p>We’ve collated 40 items that tell a tale of how privacy has been at the centre of some of the biggest events over the past 40 years. They represent key moments when people’s right to privacy or access to information has been affected – positively or negatively – and we’ll explain the role we’ve played protecting your rights, whether or not you realised we were by your side.</p> <p>And we’ll also ask what privacy means to you. When have you valued your privacy, or felt it was at risk? Has being able to access information made a difference in your life? We’ve left space in our exhibition for you to select an item that means something to you personally.</p> <p>The world may look starkly different today than it did 40 years ago. But your rights are stronger than ever, and we’ll continue to uphold them as the world around us changes. </p> </div> </div> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-item" data-content-element-type-alias="threeColumnLayout" data-content-element-type-key="0907fa9f-5e35-4afc-b67e-a833f8467638" data-element-udi="umb://element/ecaf6c048a854b5dbbc121a3827f0c7c" data-col-span="12" data-row-span="1" style=" --umb-block-grid--item-column-span: 12; --umb-block-grid--item-row-span: 1; "> <div class="umb-block-grid__area-container" style="--umb-block-grid--area-grid-columns: 12;"> <div class="umb-block-grid__area" data-area-col-span="4" data-area-row-span="1" data-area-alias="left" style="--umb-block-grid--grid-columns: 4;--umb-block-grid--area-column-span: 4; --umb-block-grid--area-row-span: 1;"> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-container"> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-item" data-content-element-type-alias="richTextBlock" data-content-element-type-key="d7ec1d8a-2a00-439e-95b4-9f3537f5ece4" data-element-udi="umb://element/0012dd3da9cf43baa3feb1022b75d80f" data-col-span="4" data-row-span="1" style=" --umb-block-grid--item-column-span: 4; --umb-block-grid--item-row-span: 1; "> <div class="prose prose-sm md:prose-base prose-h2:font-serif sm:prose-h2:border-l-10 sm:prose-h2:pl-3 sm:prose-h2:-ml-3 sm:prose-h2:relative sm:prose-h2:left-[-10px] prose-h3:font-serif sm:prose-lead:border-l-10 sm:prose-lead:pl-3 sm:prose-lead:-ml-3 sm:prose-lead:relative sm:prose-lead:left-[-10px] prose-hr:my-4 prose-h2:border-theme-blue-light prose-lead:border-theme-blue-light prose-theme-blue sm:ml-[10px] sm:pl-3"> <p><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/encryption/" title="Encryption"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/phone-hacking-scandal-and-leveson-inquiry/" title="Phone hacking scandal and Leveson Inquiry"><img src="/media2/oudbgtnn/ico_leveson_notw_final.jpg" alt="A pile of newspapers. On the top of the pile is edition number 8674 of the News of the World. The front page reads “Thank you and Goodbye”. This is the last ever edition of the News of the World. At the top of the page you can see that the news of the world existed from 1843 to 2011. "></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/encryption/" title="Encryption"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/a-cautionary-tale-of-tech-innovation/" title="A cautionary tale of tech innovation"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/cambridge-analytica-raids/" title="Cambridge Analytica raids"><img src="/media2/ciwk0jqb/ico-40_enforcement_final.jpg" alt="A man looks out of the window. He's wearing a dark blue ICO enforcement jacket."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/a-cautionary-tale-of-tech-innovation/" title="A cautionary tale of tech innovation"> </a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/use-of-data-in-pandemic-to-develop-the-vaccine/" title="Use of data in pandemic to develop the vaccine"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/a-cautionary-tale-of-tech-innovation/" title="A cautionary tale of tech innovation"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/post-office-scandal/" title="Post office scandal"><img src="/media2/vlifce5o/ico-40_postmaster-scandal.jpg" alt="Five people stand outside Aldwych House. They look stern and serious. They're holding a turquoise banner that reads “Justice for Sub-Postmasters Alliance”. Underneath the heading there are three demands. Firstly, a full statutory inquiry, secondly a demand to identify and hold the individuals responsible to account and finally to fully recompensate the victims."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/a-cautionary-tale-of-tech-innovation/" title="A cautionary tale of tech innovation"><img src="/media2/1cijd3sk/ico-40_black-mirror_final.jpg" alt="A person in a dark black outfit holds up a mirror to cover their face. The mirror is darkened and the glass is shattered."></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/data-gathered-on-children-from-birth/" title="Data gathered on children from birth"><img src="/media2/4obidsri/ico-40_child-record_final.jpg" alt="A woman is holding a personal child health record, sometimes known as the red book. It's open at a page that lists, the child family and birth details and local and information sources."></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/data-as-a-commodity/" title="Data as a commodity"><img src="/media2/hykm3o1u/ico-40_oil_data_finaljpeg.jpg" alt="Across the backdrop of a golden sunset over the sea - an oil rig looms at the front of this photo. You can see the drill drop down into the ocean gathering millions of pounds worth of this precious commodity."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/police-use-of-tapes-due-to-security/" title="Police use of tapes due to security"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/data-gathered-and-used-during-covid-19/" title="Data gathered and used during COVID-19"><img src="/media2/4wspaagk/ico-40_face-mask_final.jpg" alt="An up-close image of a man wearing a bright blue Covid face mask."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/police-use-of-tapes-due-to-security/" title="Police use of tapes due to security"><img src="/media2/wgud4ns5/ico-40_tape-recordings_final.jpg" alt="A black tape recorder is open ready for the blank tape next to it to be placed inside. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/first-data-protection-fine-to-catalogue-company/" title="First data protection fine to catalogue company"><img src="/media2/rqomc1kx/ico40_lawn-shoes.jpg" alt="A woman has her feet up on a table. She’s leaning her feet on a pile of gardening magazines. She’s wearing blue Adidas trainers but added over the trainers are a pair of novelty grass aerator shoes. The shoes are attached to the bottom of the trainers and have large thick metal spikes out the bottom. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/digital-voice-assistants/" title="Digital voice assistants"><img src="/media2/22nbvh43/ico-40_alexa.jpg" alt="An out of focus image of a woman in the kitchen. She's leaning to get a mug from a cupboard. Closer to the camera you can see an Alexa smart speaker. It’s light is shining – showing that it’s listening and ready to answer the woman’s questions as she does other tasks. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/nuisance-call-increase/" title="Nuisance call increase"><img src="/media2/c4uoyx4b/ico-40_ppi_final.jpg" alt="A woman points a remote at the TV. On the screen, there's an FCA advert reminding people of the deadline to claim for PPI refunds. There is a robot Arnold Schwarzenegger head in the corner of the advert, about to roll across towards the centre of the screen. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/metropolitan-police-gangs-matrix/" title="Metropolitan Police gangs matrix"><img src="/media2/edmpcuvf/ico-40_gangs-matrix_final.jpg" alt="A man is working on a bundle of documents. He's highlighting a map of London. He's already highlighted the areas of Haringey and Hackney. Underneath the map you can see two more document piles. One set is from a London housing association and the other documents from a job centre."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/everyday-collection-of-your-location-data/" title="Everyday collection of your location data"><img src="/media2/gg2ngqkn/ico-40_google-maps_final.jpg" alt="Two friends are chatting as they drive down a country road. The friend in the passenger seat points ahead as she looks down at Google Maps help her friend navigate the journey. "></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/empty-plinth/" title="Empty plinth"><img src="/media2/lwqpxu4p/ico40-girl-with-a-blank-frame.jpg" alt="A woman in a bright red floral dress is holding up an empty picture frame."></a></p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="umb-block-grid__area" data-area-col-span="4" data-area-row-span="1" data-area-alias="middle" style="--umb-block-grid--grid-columns: 4;--umb-block-grid--area-column-span: 4; --umb-block-grid--area-row-span: 1;"> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-container"> <div class="umb-block-grid__layout-item" data-content-element-type-alias="richTextBlock" data-content-element-type-key="d7ec1d8a-2a00-439e-95b4-9f3537f5ece4" data-element-udi="umb://element/14947efc0f3148c3bebddec953ba5877" data-col-span="4" data-row-span="1" style=" --umb-block-grid--item-column-span: 4; --umb-block-grid--item-row-span: 1; "> <div class="prose prose-sm md:prose-base prose-h2:font-serif sm:prose-h2:border-l-10 sm:prose-h2:pl-3 sm:prose-h2:-ml-3 sm:prose-h2:relative sm:prose-h2:left-[-10px] prose-h3:font-serif sm:prose-lead:border-l-10 sm:prose-lead:pl-3 sm:prose-lead:-ml-3 sm:prose-lead:relative sm:prose-lead:left-[-10px] prose-hr:my-4 prose-h2:border-theme-blue-light prose-lead:border-theme-blue-light prose-theme-blue sm:ml-[10px] sm:pl-3"> <p><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/how-1gb-of-data-has-changed-over-the-years/" title="How 1GB of data has changed over the years"><img src="/media2/0ihfumnj/ico-40_storage-drives_final.jpg" alt="A man holds a white box in his hands. It's full to the brim with brightly coloured floppy discs - 726 to be exact. In front of the box in his other hand is a small USB drive. Both the box and the USB drive have exactly the same amount of memory. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/facial-recognition-technology-in-schools/" title="Facial recognition technology in schools"><img src="/media2/zn2gptqd/ico-40-photo_lunch-tray_frt_final.jpg" alt="A person holds a blue school dinner tray. They've started to collect their dinner and have added a banana and an apple to the tray. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/loss-of-uk-child-benefit-data/" title="Loss of UK child benefit data"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/data-gathered-by-loyalty-cards/" title="Data gathered by loyalty cards"><img src="/media2/f5cjq1xk/ico-40_tesco-club-card_final.jpg" alt="A close up of a man as he pulls out a Tesco Clubcard from a black wallet. You can see three other debit cards. "></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/loss-of-uk-child-benefit-data/" title="Loss of UK child benefit data"><img src="/media2/b10bp0wm/ico40_cd_child-benefit-records-loss.jpg" alt="A woman holds a CD in the palm of her hand close up to the camera so you can see the rainbow holographic lights of the CD shine. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/nhs-cyber-attack/" title="NHS cyber attack"><img src="/media2/il4dxjt3/ico40_nhs-wannacry.jpg" alt="A man is typing at an old laptop. The desktop background on the screen is the classic windows background of rolling hills. However, over the top there’s a dark warning message. A black box has appeared and in a bright red robotic font the message “You have been hacked.” "></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/google-deepmind-and-class-action-lawsuit/" title="Google DeepMind and class action lawsuit"><img src="/media2/bmvlaugy/ico40_medical-records.jpg" alt="A medical history form. You can see the person’s name, date of birth, their personal health history. medical problems and list of surgeries. This includes a nasal surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital in 2023. "></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/poll-tax/" title="Poll tax"><img src="/media2/xgepjdgc/ico-40-photo_poll-tax_final.jpg" alt="A person is stood outside against a wall. Their hand is raised and they’re holding a placard aloft that says, “Pay no poll tax. Don't pay. Don’t collect.” "></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/introduction-of-crime-fingerprinting/" title="Introduction of crime fingerprinting"><img src="/media2/sejjjs0w/ico-40_dna-double-helix_final.jpg" alt="A person in white gloves and a white lab coat is assembling a small DNA model."></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/national-id-cards-proposed-for-football-fans/" title="National ID cards proposed for football fans"><img src="/media2/uvvhys1k/ico40_footy-shirt.jpg" alt="A close up of a woman wearing a 1980s Everton football club shirt. The shirt is light grey with a blue V-neck and silver stripes. You can see the Everton Crest which is the letters EFC with 2 Laurel wreaths either side of Prince Rupert’s tower."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/advances-in-robotics-and-health-tech/" title="Advances in robotics and health tech"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/advances-in-robotics-and-health-tech/" title="Advances in robotics and health tech"><img src="/media2/f2cmxj50/ico-40_surgical-robotics_final.jpg" alt="Two surgeons in an operating room. The surgeon closer to the camera is holding a small robotic device. "></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/excessive-data-collection-by-police-and-edessa-work/" title="Excessive data collection by police and Edessa work"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/mp-expenses-scandal/" title="MP expenses scandal"><img src="/media2/2dohpn2p/ico40_mps-expenses.jpg" alt="A series of seemingly random objects appear on a blue background. There is a white toilet seat, a tin of dog food, a corkscrew and a light bulb. 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The title reads what everyone should know about the Millennium bug."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/use-of-data-in-pandemic-to-develop-the-vaccine/" title="Use of data in pandemic to develop the vaccine"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/early-ai-chatbot/" title="Early AI chatbot"><img src="/media2/1punsdw3/ico-40_smarterchild_final.jpg" alt="A person types on MSN messenger. The login screen is open and they're about to start a conversation with friends."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/use-of-data-in-pandemic-to-develop-the-vaccine/" title="Use of data in pandemic to develop the vaccine"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/introduction-of-the-internet/" title="Introduction of the Internet"><img src="/media2/tzmfdf2d/ico40_modem.jpg" alt="A man switches on a bright white PlusNet Wi-Fi box. 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This particular establishment has a five star food hygiene rating."></a> <a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/the-pokemon-go-craze-vs-privacy/" title="The Pokémon Go craze vs privacy"><img src="/media2/tujhbc5a/ico-40_pokemon-go_final.jpg" alt="You can see over the over the shoulder of a child as she looks at her Pokémon Go game on her phone. She's carrying a Pikachu and wearing a Pokémon T-shirt."></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/encryption/" title="Encryption"></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/human-genome-project/" title="Human Genome Project"><img src="/media2/c2zmpdz5/ico-40_human-genome-project_finaljpeg.jpg" alt=""></a><a href="/for-the-public/ico-40/encryption/" title="Encryption"><img src="/media2/hiujj2v3/ico-40_encryption_final.jpg" alt="A person is holding a mobile phone in their hands. On the screen there’s a padlock symbol. 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