Organisations Urged to Strengthen Privacy Accountability

Information Commissioner, Celia Barclay, is urging organisations to assess their privacy programmes and strengthen accountability across all levels.

“Do not wait for a complaint or breach to review and improve your privacy practices,” she said while addressing a Data Privacy Conference held on Wednesday (January 28) at the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, in St. Andrew under the theme – ‘Your Privacy Programme and You: Managing Privacy in the Age of AI and Digital Mistrust’.

The event was hosted by the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) in collaboration with UTech as part of activities to mark Data Privacy Month in January.

It brought together regulators, technologists, academics, students and industry practitioners to discuss shared responsibility for data protection in an increasingly digital society.

Ms. Barclay noted that an effective privacy programme goes beyond policies or compliance checks, and should function as an active framework guiding how personal data is collected, used, shared and protected, while demonstrating respect for individuals and accountability.

She emphasised that the Data Protection Act places responsibility on individuals, noting that it defines a data controller as ‘any person’.

“Data protection is not only for large corporations or registered businesses. It is a personal obligation, just as data privacy is a personal right,” Ms Barclay further stated.

The Information Commissioner added that the OIC remains committed to compliance with the Act, while fostering innovation, digital transformation, and national development grounded in dignity and privacy.

Additionally, Ms. Barclay cautioned that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) systems depend heavily on large volumes of personal data which, without proper governance and safeguards, can undermine privacy, reinforce bias and weaken public trust.

She said that managing privacy today requires leadership, deliberate action, education, and broad participation, as well as a culture where privacy-respecting practices are routine.

Ms. Barclay urged organisations to strengthen governance, developers to embed privacy-by-design, leaders to ask critical questions, and individuals to know their rights under the law.

“There is no progress without trust,” she said, emphasising that privacy protection is key to Jamaica’s digital transformation.