Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF)

To make AI work for people, we need humanities and social science input. So I'm super excited to say we have a series of new Innovation Fellowships to enable researchers to work for a year at bodies such as the AI Safety Institute, Ofcom, Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport https://lnkd.in/ee5SjcFe

NEW: We’ve surveyed 2,000+ data controller organisations that collect, process and store personal information. A data controller is an organisation or individual that manages the purposes and means of the processing of personal information. Data controllers control the personal information being processed and are ultimately responsible for it. Alongside the survey, the data controller study included 20 in-depth interviews, through which we learnt more about the organisations that we regulate, and gained insight that will inform our strategic and regulatory objectives. This is the first of a three-year research project to gain more insight into the UK data controller landscape and help us support organisations with their data protection responsibilities and ensure people’s personal information is protected. We asked UK data controllers to share: • key details about their organisations; • activities involving processing personal information; • the technologies they use; • innovation considerations; and • perceptions of data protection laws and regulation. Here are a few of our key findings: ➡️ Organisations have developed an informed view about data protection law, 32% of organisations agree that data protection law has been an enabler that has positively influenced core activities; ➡️ 24% of organisations reported that data protection law had placed constraints to at least some extent on their core activities; ➡️ 74% of data controllers are sole traders; and ➡️ 48% of data controllers processed personal information for less than 100 data subjects in the last 12 months. We also wanted to learn more about the challenges organisations face. We found that: ➡️ 49% of organisations raised cyber security as a challenge in processing personal information; and ➡️ 49% of organisations reported lack of expertise/staff training required as reasons for not adopting new technologies. Read the full data controllers study findings on our website 👉 https://lnkd.in/eWf7HKvx

DRCF AI and Digital Hub is a free informal advice service to provide innovators tailored answers to their most pressing cross-regulatory questions. The hub offers a unique opportunity to help bring your innovations to market responsibly, faster, and with greater confidence, with the support of the Competition and Markets Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Information Commissioner's Office, and Ofcom. The team behind the service are hosting an info session on 18th September in Edinburgh if you'd like to find out more! 📎 https://lnkd.in/ezxia82j

We strongly support responsible data sharing, especially when it helps to safeguard vulnerable people and prevent harm. Responsible data sharing can aid the prevention of data-enabled scams and fraud that target vulnerable people online. Data protection law can act as an enabler for fair and proportionate data sharing – rather than a barrier – and we’ve developed a variety of resources to help. We stand ready to support stakeholder-led initiatives which seek to promote responsible sharing of data, and we’re also developing new resources that will empower businesses to share data appropriately to mitigate fraud and scams. Our existing resources have been created to empower people and organisations to share data responsibly: ➡️ Use our Data Sharing Code of Practice as a guide on how to share personal data in a way that complies with data protection law: https://lnkd.in/eCXnq9hk ➡️ We have sector specific guidance that offers practical advice on data protection considerations when you need to share information: https://lnkd.in/eFxpy6-w ➡️ We’ve provided real world examples and case studies of different approaches to data sharing: https://lnkd.in/egh9q-YJ We’re currently working with stakeholders to understand which types of case studies and examples will support organisations to have confidence in proactively sharing information to prevent fraud and scams harms. Stakeholders include: ➡️ Other regulators as part of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) ➡️ Government ➡️ Financial ➡️ Telecoms and social media firms ➡️ Trade and anti-fraud bodies ➡️ Consumer groups. We will hold workshops with stakeholder groups as we develop these case studies. We’re eager to hear from interested stakeholders on any ideas, suggestions for useful case studies or questions about our guidance. 📨 Send us your thoughts via email to: digitalregulationcooperation@ico.org.uk