The ICO last week published ‘Openness by Design’, its new access to information strategy.
The strategy sets out five goals relating to the suite of access to information legislation regulated by the ICO: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004, and the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015.
The five ‘Openness by Design’ goals are:
- Ensuring that access to information rights is upheld in a consistent and timely manner and operates effectively in a digital age.
- Providing excellent customer service to individuals making requests to us and lead by example in fulfilling our own statutory functions.
- Raising awareness of access to information rights and make it easier for the public to exercise their rights.
- Promoting the reform of access to information legislation so it remains relevant for our modern society and fit for purpose.
- Further developing and sustaining our international collaboration, learning from the best initiatives around the world.
The ICO’s ambition is to increase the impact of its regulation of access to information legislation. The ICO will encourage public authorities to comply with the law in the first instance, reducing the need for people to complain to the regulator. Where necessary, the ICO will take enforcement action and make full use of its spectrum of powers.