MoJ asks for data protection views

It has asked for views on how the European Data Protection Directive and the Data Protection Act are working, and whether the powers of the information commissioner should be strengthened. This follows a recent statement by EU justice commissioner Viviane Reding that the UK should change its rules and give more power to the Information Commissioner's Office. The Call for Evidence will allow individuals, private organisations, charities and public authorities to outline their views on the current laws on data protection. This information will then be assessed and used to inform the UK's position in negotiations on a new EU instrument for data protection, which are expected to begin in early 2011. Justice minister Lord McNally said:"We want to gather evidence and views on whether the current data protection laws are working in light of social and technological changes since the mid-1990s. As individuals, citizens and consumers, we have the right to know our data is properly protected, and the government is keen to gather evidence about how helpful the existing legislation is, as well as ideas on how the current data protection regime can be improved."