Recommendation L59: ICO Good Practice Guidelines
From An Inquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press, published 29 November 2012.
Recommendation
In discharge of its functions and duties to promote good practice in areas of public concern, the Information Commissioner's Office should take immediate steps, in consultation with the industry, to prepare and issue comprehensive good practice guidelines and advice on appropriate principles and standards to be observed by the press in the processing of personal data. This should be prepared and implemented within six months from the date of this Report.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked the Information Commissioner's Office to publish data protection guidance for the press. In September 2014, it published guidance for the media explaining data protection obligations, clarifying journalism exemptions, and advising on good practice (Information Commissioner's Office, Sep 2014). It had previously reported in June 2013 that it had consulted on developing guidance for the press and on issuing it as a code of practice (Information Commissioner's Office, Jun 2013). In January 2013, it recognised the need to prepare guidance based on data protection law as it then stood and the importance of consultation with the press and broadcasting industry (Information Commissioner's Office response, Jan 2013).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 1 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
We recognise the need for the ICO to prepare this guidance, based on the DPA as it currently stands. We also recognise the importance of consultation with the press and broadcasting industry.
Blanket government agreement does not establish acceptance or delivery by each addressee. Some response passages cover groups of recommendations.
Scope of the government response
PM David Cameron responded to all 92 recommendations with a single statement accepting them "in principle" or "in part". No per-recommendation response was published.
Delivery
Information Commissioner says completed (4 September 2014)
In the report of the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press, Lord Justice Leveson recommended that the ICO: “should take immediate steps, in consultation with the industry, to prepare and issue comprehensive good practice guidelines and advice on appropriate principles and standards to be observed by the press in the processing of personal data.” This guide responds to that need. It explains how the DPA applies to journalism. It sets out the basic principles and obligations, advises on good practice, and clarifies how an exemption for journalism works to protect freedom of expression. It also explains what happens when someone complains, and the role and powers of the ICO.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Information Commissioner (19 June 2013)
We have paid close attention to the Inquiry recommendations and published an action plan responding to these. We have set out an engagement strategy to ensure we have a more constructive relationship with media bodies on their compliance with information rights law and have consulted on developing guidance for the press on data protection as recommended by Lord Justice Leveson. We consulted about issuing this guidance in the form of a code of practice.
From: Information Commissioner's Annual Report and Financial Statements 2012/13
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Information Commissioner
Response, delivery statement