The ICO launched its Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) handbook (version 2) in June 2009.
The handbook is designed to be a practical and comprehensive guide, aimed at organisations who are developing projects that might have implications for people’s privacy. It will help organisations assess and identify any privacy concerns (a Privacy Impact Assessment) and address them at an early stage, rather than leaving the solutions to bolt on as an expensive afterthought.
PIA handbook
Click on the link below to view a HTML version of the handbook. There is a printer-friendly PDF version available within the HTML document. We have also produced an overview about privacy impact assessments.
We are happy to provide general advice on the use of PIAs, and are also keen to learn from organisations’ experiences of the PIA process. However, our Enquiries team is not able to provide detailed advice on specific PIA projects. If you have any questions or comments about PIAs, please contact us.
Research
A study on the use of PIAs around the world was also presented, with the PIA handbook, at the ICO’s conference ‘Surveillance Society: Turning Debate into Action.
The study and handbook were developed for the Information Commissioner by an international team of experts coordinated by the University of Loughborough. This is groundbreaking work and has provoked much interest with some government departments already wanting to use it.
Privacy enhancing technologies (PETs)
The ICO has produced guidance intended to raise awareness of the concept of privacy enhancing technologies and is aimed at system designers and those commissioning them.