DPC takes the message to the people with TV ad

The Data Protection Commissioner has launched a TV advertising campaign to promote public awareness of privacy rights.

The campaign is a follow-up to the 1998 Data Protection Act which came into power in March, and aims to encourage the public to take responsibility for their own confidential data.

According to Helen Corkery, marketing manager with the DPC, the Commissioner would prefer consumers to exercise caution before releasing information, rather than present complaints to the DPC.

Speaking to silicon.com, she said: "People who give out confidential data usually own that data. They need to learn to be careful about who they give it to, they need to be aware that the data can be held in manual and electronic records."

The government is footing the £400,000 cost of the campaign, while an information line and mailing service to run in parallel with the television ads have been outsourced.

silicon.com recently launched Back the Act, a campaign to lobby for better funding and resources for the DPC.