The use of biometrics to speed up airport passenger journeys, innovations in crime prevention and technological advances in the health sector are among the first projects selected to take part in the ICO Sandbox.Other products and services which will be tested and scrutinised for compliance with data protection law will include innovations in housing, road traffic management, student welfare and tackling bias in artificial intelligence.The sandbox is a new ICO service which will support organisations which are developing innovative products and services using personal data with a clear public benefit. Participants will be able to draw on the ICO's expertise and advice on data protection by design, mitigating any risks as they test their innovations, while ensuring that appropriate protections and safeguards are in place.Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner, said:”The ICO supports innovation in technology and exciting new uses of data, while ensuring that people's privacy and legal rights are protected. We have always said that privacy and innovation are not mutually exclusive and there doesn't need to be an either-or choice between the two.”The sandbox will help companies and public bodies deliver new products and services of real benefit to the public, with assurance that they have tackled built-in data protection at the outset.”Engaging with businesses and innovators in the sandbox is also a valuable exercise in horizon scanning – the ICO can identify new developments in technology and innovation and the potential opportunities and challenges they may provide.”
UK’s ICO selects biometrics for data protection sandbox
