Regulator profile
ICO
Information Commissioner's Office
Enforcement Regulator3 areas of regulation · 1122 official guidance documents · 71 laws enforced · UK-wide
What ICO does
Data protection, freedom of information, privacy and electronic communications regulation. Enforces UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Issues fines for breaches. All businesses processing personal data must pay ICO data protection fee.
Contact ICO
Types of regulation
Data Protection
Freedom Of Information
Privacy
Official guidance from ICO
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
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Pay the data protection fee
Detailed Guidance
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Direct marketing guidance (ICO)
Detailed Guidance
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Key concepts and definitions
Detailed Guidance
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Toolkits
Detailed Guidance
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Fines and why they happen
Detailed Guidance
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What is NIS?
Detailed Guidance
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ICO AI and data protection guidance
Detailed Guidance
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UK GDPR guidance (ICO)
Detailed Guidance
Legal framework
Legislation that ICO directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Freedom of Information Act 2000 Act 2000
- Data Protection Act 2018 Act 2018
- Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024 Act 2024
- Data Use and Access Act 2025 Act 2025
- Data Use and Access Act 2025 Act 2025
Secondary legislation
- Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 UK Statutory Instrument 2002
- Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 UK Statutory Instrument 2003
- Environmental Information Regulations 2004 UK Statutory Instrument 2004
- Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004 UK Statutory Instrument 2004
- INSPIRE Regulations 2009 UK Statutory Instrument 2009
- The Data Protection (Monetary Penalties) (Maximum Penalty and Notices) Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- The Data Protection (Monetary Penalties) Order 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- The Freedom of Information (Time for Compliance with Request) Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
- The Data Protection Act 1998 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
- ... and 56 more statutory instruments
Related legislation
Legislation connected to ICO's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Administered / monitored
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Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2000
UK Statutory Instrument 2000 -
Public Contracts Regulations 2015
UK Statutory Instrument 2015 -
Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions Regulations 2016
UK Statutory Instrument 2016 -
Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments ) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
UK Statutory Instrument 2019 -
Procurement Regulations 2024
UK Statutory Instrument 2024 -
DUAA 2025 (Commencement No. 6) Regulations 2026
UK Statutory Instrument 2026
Coverage area
UK-wide