Information Commissioner
Encyclopedia
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.
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
.
(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
.
was set up under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, which came into effect in April 1998. The Information Commissioner may conduct reviews of the decisions of public bodies in relation to requests for access to information. In Ireland
, the Information Commissioner also holds the position of Ombudsman
. The first holder of the office was Kevin Murphy
. In March 2003, the Government of Ireland nominated Emily O'Reilly
to be Information Commissioner (and Ombudsman).
, the Information Commissioner's Office is responsible for regulating compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998, 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
.
and EEA
have equivalent officials created under their versions of Directive 95/46
. The website of the UK IC gives links to his counterparts around Europe
.
Canada
The Information Commissioner of CanadaInformation Commissioner of 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....
is an independent ombudsman appointed by the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
who investigates complaints from people who believe they have been denied rights provided under Canada's Access to Information Act
Access to Information Act
Access to Information Act or Information Act is a Canadian act providing the right of access to information under the control of a government institution...
.
Germany
The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of InformationFederal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information
The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information is the federal commissioner not only for data protection but also for 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
Freedom of information
Freedom of information refers to the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology . Freedom of information may also concern censorship in an information technology context, i.e...
.
Ireland
The Office of the Information CommissionerOffice of the Information Commissioner
The Information Commissioner's Office in the United Kingdom, is a non-departmental public body which reports directly to Parliament and is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice...
was set up under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, which came into effect in April 1998. The Information Commissioner may conduct reviews of the decisions of public bodies in relation to requests for access to information. In Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, the Information Commissioner also holds the position of Ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
. The first holder of the office was Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy (Irish ombudsman)
Kevin Murphy was appointed Ombudsman by the President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, upon nomination by both Houses of the Oireachtas. His term of office began November 1, 1994 and ended in 2003....
. In March 2003, the Government of Ireland nominated Emily O'Reilly
Emily O'Reilly
Emily O'Reilly is an author and former journalist and broadcaster who became Ireland's first female Ombudsman in 2003, succeeding Kevin Murphy....
to be Information Commissioner (and Ombudsman).
United Kingdom
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the Information Commissioner's Office is responsible for regulating compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in the United Kingdom on a national level...
and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
The Freedom of Information Act 2002 was an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed in 2002. It covers public bodies over which the Scottish Parliament has jurisdiction, fulfilling a similar purpose to the UK-level Freedom of Information Act 2000...
is the responsibility of the Scottish Information Commissioner
Scottish Information Commissioner
The Scottish Information Commissioner is responsible for the promotion and enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act 2002 and the ....
.
Other European States
All other countries of the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and EEA
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
have equivalent officials created under their versions of Directive 95/46
Directive 95/46/EC on the protection of personal data
The Data Protection Directive is a European Union directive which regulates the processing of personal data within the European Union...
. The website of the UK IC gives links to his counterparts around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.