The role of information commissioner differs from nation to nation. Most commonly it is a title given to a government regulator in the fields of freedom of information and the protection of personal data in the widest sense. The office often functions as a specialist ombudsman service.

Australia

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has functions relating to freedom of information and privacy, as well as information policy. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner, which was the national privacy regulator, was integrated into the OAIC on 1 November 2010. There are three independent commissioners in the OAIC: the Australian Information Commissioner, the Freedom of Information Commissioner, and the Privacy Commissioner.

Bangladesh

The Information Commission of Bangladesh promotes and protects access to information. It is formed under the Right to Information Act, 2009, whose stated object is to empower the citizens by promoting transparency and accountability in the working of the public and private organizations, with the ultimate aim of decreasing corruption and establishing good governance. The Act creates a regime through which the citizens of the country may have access to information under the control of public and other authorities.[1]

Canada

The Information Commissioner of Canada is an independent ombudsman appointed by the Parliament of Canada who investigates complaints from people who believe they have been denied rights provided under Canada's Access to Information Act. Similar bodies at provincial level include the Information and Privacy Commissioner (Ontario).[2]

Germany

The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (FfDF) is the federal commissioner not only for data protection but also (since commencement of the German Freedom of Information Act on January 1, 2006) for freedom of information.

Hong Kong

The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) is charged with education and enforcement of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, which first came into force in 1997. The commissioner has the power to investigate and impose fines for violations.[3] Reforms in 2021 gave it powers to investigate and prosecute suspected doxxing incidents.[4] [5]

India

The Central Information Commission, and State Information Commissions, receive and inquire into complaints from anyone who has been refused access to any information requested under the Right to Information Act, or whose rights under that Act have otherwise been obstructed, for example by being prevented from submitting a data request or being required to pay an excessive fee.[6]

Ireland

List of Information Commissioners
Name Term
Kevin Murphy 1998–2003
Emily O'Reilly 2003–2013
Peter Tyndall 2013–2021[7]
Ger Deering 2022–present[8]

The Office of the Information Commissioner (Irish: Oifig an Choimisinéara Faisnéise) in Ireland was set up under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, which came into effect in April 1998.[9][10] The Information Commissioner may conduct reviews of the decisions of public bodies in relation to requests for access to information. Since its creation, the office has been held simultaneously with that of the Ombudsman. The Information Commissioner also holds ex officio the role of Commissioner for Environmental Information.[11][12][13]

Switzerland

The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner is responsible for the supervision of federal authorities and private bodies with respect to data protection[14] and freedom of information legislation.[15]

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Information Commissioner's Office is responsible for regulating compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 is the responsibility of the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Other European States

All other countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area have equivalent officials created under their versions of Directive 95/46. The Europa website gives links to such bodies around Europe.[16]

Cooperation among information commissioners

The Global Privacy Enforcement Network is a transnational organization for the coordination of privacy laws among its 59 member states and the European Union.[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bangladesh Right to Information Act (Full Text)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  2. ↑ RILEY, T. "Canadian Federal Information Commissioner's Report". Transnational Data Report. 15 (4): 49–50.
  3. ↑ "The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data website". Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
  4. ↑ "Hong Kong's personal data protection reforms : Clyde & Co". www.clydeco.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  5. ↑ "Doxxing Offences". www.pcpd.org.hk. Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  6. ↑ "Central Information Commission website". Archived from the original on 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  7. ↑ "President appoints Peter Tyndall as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner". The Office of the Ombudsman. 2013-12-02. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11.
  8. ↑ "Ceapachán an Choimisinéara Faisnéise" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2022 (1): 7. 4 January 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Freedom of Information Act 1997, s. 33: Establishment of office of Information Commissioner (No. 13 of 1997, s. 33). Enacted on 21 April 1997. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  10. ↑ Freedom of Information Act 2014, s. 43: Continuance of office of Information Commissioner (No. 30 of 2014, s. 43). Enacted on 14 October 2014. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  11. ↑ European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007, Art. 12 (S.I. No. 133 of 2007). Signed on 28 March 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  12. ↑ "Who we are". Commissioner for Environmental Information. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Who we are". Information Commissioner. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Federal Act on Data Protection of 19 June 1992 (status as of 1 January 2014) Archived 19 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Federal Chancellery of Switzerland (page visited on 21 September 2016).
  15. ↑ Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration of 17 December 2004 (status as of 19 August 2014) Archived 20 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Federal Chancellery of Switzerland (page visited on 21 September 2016).
  16. ↑ "European data protection bodies list". Archived from the original on 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  17. ↑ "Authorities Listings | Global Privacy Enforcement Network". www.privacyenforcement.net. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
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