ICO is a crucial #digital regulator. So it's a pity that 2019-20 report (so pre main #Covid19) has been published news day dominated by #RussiaReport. Also somewhat troubling due to concerns about fate of various initiatives laid out in last year's report. https://twitter.com/ICOnews/status/1285222948828262402

2018-19 committed to providing Parliament with outstanding legally mandated Codes on (1) #DirectMarketing, (2) #Journalism & (3) Data Sharing by end of 2019. Also noted they were "vital". But unfortunately as of mid-2020 none of these Codes have been adopted.

Most concerning is #journalism Code, meant to be basis for post #Leveson review on #media under s 178 of DP Act 2018. 2018-19 Report said would be summer 2019 consult & a Code by end of year. Not only has even consult not happened but no mention in 2019-20 Report at all.

Given concerns on #adtech, the fate of Direct Marketing Code is also worrying. 2018-19 Report promised consult in summer 2019 & 2019-20 Report at least mentions that this did happen in Jan 2020. But despite 2018-19 plan to finalize Code by Oct 2019 no mention of future steps.

These concerns tally with unease about ICO track-record on actually enforcing #dataprotection raised this year by groups like @OpenRightsGroup on #EUDataP #GDPR & also UK Parl @HumanRightsCtte when talking about "Wild West" online https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/human-rights-committee/news-parliament-2017/privacy-report-published-19-20/

The @ICOnews Press Release on the report can be read here https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2020/07/information-commissioner-s-office-publishes-2019-20-annual-report/ & the full report perused at your leisure at https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/documents/2618021/annual-report-2019-20-v83-certified.pdf!