Professional bodies representing public sector communicators today welcomed new guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), enabling public bodies to significantly increase the number of people they can communicate with regarding COVID-19.
The fresh ICO guidance confirms that ICO will take into account the compelling public interest in the current health emergency with regard to the sharing of data held, for example, by Electoral Registration Officers.
This fresh guidance will significantly enhance the ability of public sector bodies to communicate directly with citizens, and to identify especially vulnerable people.
Simon Jones MPRCA, LGcomms Chairman, said: “The ICO guidance recognises the hugely important role that public service information is playing in saving lives. This will help councils reach as many people as possible at this vital time.”
Francis Ingham MPRCA, PRCA Director General added: “This pragmatic new guidance will be warmly welcomed by public sector bodies as they work to communicate vitally important messages to the public. We applaud the ICO for this extremely welcome new guidance. Quite simply, it will save lives.”