Cabinet Office announces non-corporate communication channels review

The Cabinet Office has announced the appointment of Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein CBE as the Independent Reviewer of the use of non-corporate communications channels (NCCCs) in government. Appointed by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Darren Jones MP, Sir Anthony will investigate the human, organisational, legal, and technical factors involved when officials, advisers, and ministers use NCCCs, such as personal emails and messaging apps, for official business.

The initiative aims to provide greater clarity to balance operational efficiency and information security with transparency and accountability, which are essential for maintaining public trust. The review is tasked with defining NCCCs within government contexts, examining the use of auto-deletion and disappearing messages, and identifying associated security risks. 

In a statement responding to the announcement, a spokesperson for the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said: "We welcome the government’s decision to launch this review and stand ready to contribute our expertise and insight to help ensure a thorough and transparent process. This is a measure we have advocated for repeatedly, including in a report we laid before Parliament, and we are pleased to see it moving forward.

"Society benefits when public services earn trust through transparency and fairness. We encourage a comprehensive assessment that builds trust and confidence in the way non-corporate communications channels are used by government."

Training Announcement: Find out more about our range of independent accredited qualifications from BCS and IAPP. These include professional certifications for practitioners covering data protection and AI governance, information security and risk management, along with access to public information.