The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced new guidance on privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs).

PETs are designed to help organisations share and use people’s data responsibly, lawfully, and securely.

They can minimise the amount of data used and by encrypting or anonymising personal information.

These technologies are already being used by financial organisations when investigating money laundering, for example, and by the healthcare sector to provide better health outcomes and services to the public.

The public body said that the guidance would help companies “unlock the potential of data” by putting a data protection by design approach into practice.

“Although the use of PETs is in its early stages, it can unlock safe and lawful data sharing where people can enjoy better services and products without trading their privacy rights In the UK, one example is the NHS building a system for linking patient data across different organisational domains,” said John Edwards, UK information commissioner. “Today’s draft guidance is part of my office’s strategy for the next three years, where we will be supporting the responsible use and sharing of personal information to drive innovation and economic growth.

"PETs have the potential to do that, so we look forward to hearing from industry and other stakeholders on how our guidance can help them achieve this.”

The ICO explained that its guidance will outline the benefits and different types of PETs, as well as how these technologies can help organisations comply with data protection law.

Share Story: