October

The (UK) Disclosure Calculator is a web tool that can be used to find out when a criminal record becomes spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA). The need to interpret complex legislation means that many people with a criminal record do not benefit from their legal rights under the ROA, making it harder for them to reintegrate into society. Professionals and organisations working with people with a criminal record can find it difficult to find out when their clients record becomes spent, particularly for clients with multiple convictions. The Disclosure Calculator makes it simple for you to calculate when a client 's criminal record becomes 'spent ' and no longer needs to be disclosed under the ROA (e.g. to employers and insurers), removing the discrimination, which acts as a barrier to successful reintegration. You will need to set up a corporate account so that you and|or your organisation you can integrate use of the Disclosure Calculator into the services that you provide to people with a criminal record. The tool is only as good as the information that you input - it will only give you an accurate result if you input accurate information.

"The reports that telecoms companies will have to submit to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) containing details of data breaches may be disclosed under freedom of information (FOI) laws. The ICO has issued new guidance to public electronic communication service providers that explains when those companies are obliged to report personal data breaches to it after new EU data breach rules affecting such providers came into force. Under the guidance, telecoms companies would be required to submit a monthly report to the ICO detailing all the security breaches they have experienced. The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) already required telecoms companies to keep a log of personal data breaches, complete with details on the facts surrounding the breach, the effects of the breach, and remedial action taken, and it is this log that the ICO is seeking be reported every month. ""Strictly speaking, PECR does not require this monthly return,"" the ICO said. ""However, we believe that this remains a useful exercise as it will demonstrate that service providers are monitoring their security properly and taking their responsibilities seriously. If we do not receive a monthly return from a service provider, this may trigger further investigation."""

"In essence, Canadian privacy laws lack incentive for companies to obey and are losing relevance, said Jennifer Stoddart, the country 's privacy watchdog. The commissioner administers two federal laws�one in each the private and public sectors�pertaining to privacy and the protection of personal information. Throughout her 10 years in office, she has called for reforms to both, without much response from Canada 's lawmakers. ""It doesn 't really do anything to deter those who want to misuse Canadians ' privacy, and therefore doesn 't give a marginal advantage to the many corporations that are protecting Canadians ' privacy,"" Stoddart said. ""If you 're deliberately launching a product that 's misusing peoples ' personal information, collecting their personal information or, indeed as one company was doing, spying on people who rent laptops, there should be some sort of sanction."" As it stands, the office can launch an investigation after receiving a complaint. If the investigation reveals a company was breaking the law, the legislation is written in such a way that if the company comes to an understanding with the commissioner 's office, then that 's that. Stoddart is looking for the ability to slap corporations with heavy fines. Thus far, Parliament has not taken action to address concerns Stoddart has been expressing for the better part of six months. "