Better privacy in the face of transparency

What it means to be transparent in 2011 is markedly different to what it meant over ten years ago – in 1999 – when freedom of information legislation was being drafted. There is now a well established expectation that citizens should be able to find out about how public authorities are run, and new internet technologies have advanced at breakneck speed. These new technologies have the potential to significantly transform transparency. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) welcomes the latest government commitments to being more open and transparent and the new initiatives aimed at improving transparency. Greater transparency makes public authorities more accountable, and can be an effective tool in deficit reduction, driving out waste and double spending. But the large scale release of data brings with it significant privacy issues that must be addressed. This is where the ICO comes in, as we have a unique role in both promoting openness and transparency as well as ensuring an individuals' rights to privacy are protected. We are well placed to resolve any tensions that arise between the two aims. The government's new transparency website was launched late last year and brings Whitehall's open data together in one place. This marked the start of a new and exciting chapter for freedom of information – or what we're calling FOI version 2.0. We await details of how the 'right to data' will be set out in amendments to the Freedom of Information Act. And just last week saw the launch of the latest piece of the transparency jigsaw – the Home Office's crime mapping tool . Few would argue that the wholesale disclosure of data is easiest where there is no link to personal data. But, where datasets are derived from people's personal information, disclosure can present significant risks to privacy if not properly assessed. That's why it is so vital to build in privacy considerations from the start. The ICO could not be a greater advocate of the concept of 'privacy by design.' The launch of crime mapping has brought this issue into the spotlight. We support the initiative and were pleased to have an opportunity to provide advice to the Home Office about the privacy implications of the website. The crux of our argument has been that publishing exact household level mapping pins would be a significant risk to privacy and that blocks and zones are the most privacy-friendly option. As we learn more about crime data, it is possible that the tool could drill down even further into the detail where privacy risks are low – for example, listing the types of anti-social behaviour that have been recording as happening in a particular location. Like all new initiatives, the proof is in the pudding and we will want the initiative to be reviewed to consider the impact on privacy from real experience. We will also work closely with the Home Office on the next phase of more detailed pilot areas across England and Wales. But the fact that the website crashed after millions of hits on its first day shows that one thing is certain – awareness of information rights is at an all time high and the need to be open and transparent, while still getting it right on privacy, has never carried more weight. Steve Wood is head of policy delivery at the Information Commissioner's Office Steve will be speaking in the media, transparency and privacy session at the Guardian Public Services Summit which takes place on 10 and 11 February 2011