UK information commissioner Christopher Graham has published a long awaited code of practice for businesses collecting personal information online.
Appealing to businesses to be transparent with consumers about why personal information is collected and how it will be used, he commented: “Get privacy right and you will retain the trust and confidence of your customers and users,”
Companies who mislead their clients or gather information they do not need are likely to diminish customer trust, and such actions will also risk enforcement action from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Organisations that adhere to the good practice set out in the new code will enable consumers to make an informed choice about whether they sign up for a particular online service, helping reduce spam levels as well as potentially dangerous information and identity theft issues.
To read the code as it applies to small businesses, click here. If you need help making sure your organisation is complying with the new code of conduct in terms of storing client data, talk to Hartwin IT on 01480 640150.