2017 Summary of Discussions

International Conference of Information Commissioners

September 21, 2017

Information Commissioners and Deputy Information Commissioners from 39 jurisdictions met in Manchester on September 21^st 2017 in a conference hosted by Elizabeth Denham, UK Information Commissioner and Margaret Keyse, Acting Scottish Information Commissioner.

The closed session of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) began with a discussion about future vision and organisation of the conference group and hosting for future conferences.  Commissioners recognised the importance of having a means of collaboration, information sharing and work between conferences to influence the transparency agenda across the world.

It was agreed that the ICO (UK) will chair a working group to investigate the establishment of a permanent secretariat. The ICO will work with a number of interested authorities spread across the world to identify role, responsibilities, model and funding. An interim report will be provided to authorities in advance of the next conference.

A number of authorities indicated an interest in hosting the 2019 and 2021 conferences.

The broader session included presentations on access to information and outsourcing by David Banisar, Privacy International and Maurice Frankel, Campaign for Freedom of Information. This was followed by a wide ranging discussion about open contracting practices and the barriers to access to information about outsourced public services. These discussions informed the adoption of a substantial resolution on a matter of significant public concern:  ‘Right of access to information and accountability of public services’.

After discussion, the resolution was adopted by the Conference.^{Footnote 1}

The final session, facilitated by Suzanne Legault, Information Commissioner of Canada was a discussion to determine the role to be played by Information Commissioners within their respective countries’ national Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiatives and to explore the possibility of ICIC acting as a collective voice within the OGP. The initiative was well received and will be taken

forward in a survey by the Information Commissioner of Canada to gather wider input and views.

Elizabeth Denham, UK Information Commissioner closed the Conference thanking all Information Commissioners for their participation and involvement in a successful event.