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Do You Disclose Personal Data? The Information Commissioner Launces a New Code of Practice

On 11 May 2011 the Information Commissioner’s Office published a new statutory code of practice. Although it is called the ‘Data Sharing code of Practice’ to reflect the terminology in the Data Protection Act, the Information Commissioner makes it clear that the code applies not just to formalised arrangements by which parties exchange personal data but also to different types of disclosure. Accordingly any person or organisation that may disclose personal data needs to be aware of the relevant provisions of the new code to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act.

The data sharing code of practice can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website: http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/library/Data_Protection/Detailed_specialist_guides/data_sharing_code_of_practice.pdf 

As well as examining both routine and one-off instances of data sharing (with some useful case studies and a checklist) the code includes ‘good practice advice’ to help organisations that hold personal data to decide if, when and how personal information can be shared.