Elizabeth Denham to start as information commissioner next week

Written by Rebecca Hill on 15 July 2016 in News
News

Elizabeth Denham, former commissioner at the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia in Canada, will take over as the UK's information commissioner on Monday, 18 July.

 

 

 

Denham, who will take over on Monday - Photo credit: DCMS

Her appointment was announced in March this year, but the post has been filled by deputy commissioner Simon Entwistle since Christopher Graham stepped down at the end of June, after seven years at the helm.

Denham, who has held senior positions working in data regulation in Canada for 12 years, has been appointed to the role for five years.

Graham said on his departure that there had been "universal approval" of her appointment.


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The role will involve her leading the Information Commissioner’s Office, the authority that regulates the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act and the rules around marketing calls and texts.

She said in a statement: “I am delighted to have taken up this position and am excited about the challenges ahead. I look forward to working with staff and stakeholders to promote openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.”

The ICO recently published its annual report, in which it said that the priorities for the next year would include providing guidance for the new government and pushing to ensure that data protection was kept a priority in the face of Brexit negotiations.

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johnar@me.com

Submitted on 15 July, 2016 - 15:35
I welcome the new commissioner to the role. It is time there was a fresh face, but more importantly a balanced attitude in the ICO. I hope Elizabeth Denham can spend a little time looking into the issues people are flagging with Freedom of Information and the scurrilous way in which public bodies are using "vexatious" as a 'get-out-of-jail-free-card' when respectable and reasonable questions are asked. It is appalling to see Local Councils playing games, wasting public money and (IMHO) acting against the public interest in defending the often indefensible. I am fed up with the sense of organised and supported indiscretion and deceit that I have experienced more than once. It is simply wrong.

alan M Dransfield (not verified)

Submitted on 17 October, 2016 - 16:12
Well said Johnar. The vexatious claptrap is being used as a get out of jail free card for rogue Public Authorities and Miss Denham has ignored this matter. The ICO are in meltdown and Miss Denham has taken the stance of dumb insolence rather to call for an internal inquiry into this Vexatious BS Alan M Dransfield The Vexatious King Of England

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