Phorm, RIPA, the ICO and the HO

[David Hansen]

On 10 Jun 2008 at 10:12, Joel Harrison wrote:

> You may wish to draw their attention to the ICO guidance on time
> limits for considering the public interest in connection with the
> exemptions in Part II of FOIA, which states that in no circumstances
> should the total time to respond to the request for information exceed
> 40 working days.

Though this runs the danger of them simply saying no. That is the 
easiest thing for them and what they undoubtedly want to do.

In the FOI process officials always have the upper hand. They can  
assert that there is no record or whatever excuse they wish to use and, 
given the lethargy of the UK regulator, that is that.

In Scotland we are lucky, the regulator is rather more enthusiastic to 
do his job and thus not the lapdog of vested interests that many other 
regulators are. However, even saying that runs the risk of him being 
replaced by someone who dances to the officials' tune. The useless RIP 
regulators and "Independent" Police Complaints Commission show what 
happens when the regulators see their job as being to apply whitewash 
to the actions of those they are supposed to regulate.



-- 
  David Hansen, Edinburgh 
 I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents 
me   
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54