London creates privacy registry for data gathering technology

The Greater London Authority has launched a London Privacy Registry to provide greater openness around smart city technology operating in public spaces.

The Privacy Register is part of the Emerging Technology Charter for London to guide the trialling and use of data gathering smart city technologies, and the Public London Charter which sets out the rights and responsibilities of the users, owners and managers of new public spaces.

“Fundamentally this is about transparency,” Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer, Greater London Authority, told Cities Today. “By publishing data protection impact assessments as open data, in one place, citizens and those who serve them can see how their data is managed.  This is important also because the number of connected networks will grow, as will the use of cameras, drones and other systems in the public realm.”

The new registry creates a central catalogue of Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIAs) of smart city projects that collect personal information in public spaces. By publishing this in one place for the first time, it hopes to not only enable public transparency but also support good practice among operators.

The registry, which is an initiative from Blackwell’s office, is now live and will iterate as the authority receives more feedback. This includes possible expansion.

“We will start on-boarding local councils and others,” Blackwell added. “Although they are under no obligation, private landowners and businesses, like shopping centres or supermarkets, may also want to publish their DPIAs as a reflection of corporate citizenship – and we’ve provided an easy way for them to do so.”

Londoners also have the option to request the publication of a DPIA/privacy register for smart city technologies used in public spaces. Such a request will prompt Blackwell’s office to contact the responsible organisation, asking for the DPIA to be made public.

Image: Greater London Authority