ICO Advisory: Continuity Of PATI Processes
The Information Commissioner issued Interim Guidance on the “Continuity of PATI processes” following the cyber security incident, which “addresses departments’ response to PATI requests while the restoration of access to electronic public records is ongoing, engagement with PATI requesters, and searches of unofficial systems, such as Gmail or WhatsApp.”
A spokesperson said, “Information Commissioner Gitanjali Gutierrez has published Interim Guidance: Continuity of PATI processes following September 2023 Cyber Security Incident to assist government departments and other impacted public authorities as well as members of the public who have, or are considering, submitting PATI requests.
“During the Premier’s press conference providing an update on the cyber security attack, he confirmed that the Government has restored access at the server level for all historical electronic records. The Government is focused now on restoring individual public officers’ access to historical electronic records.
“The Premier also stated that most public officers have access to their emails, including historical emails. During this period of restoring access to historical electronic public records, it is crucial that government departments and other impacted public authorities provide accurate and complete responses to new and pending PATI requests.
“This interim guidance addresses departments’ response to PATI requests while the restoration of access to electronic public records is ongoing, engagement with PATI requesters, and searches of unofficial systems, such as Gmail or WhatsApp.”
“The Government is responsible for managing extensive electronic public records, containing information held in trust on behalf of the Bermuda public. Electronic public information is an invaluable asset,” Commissioner Gutierrez states.
“The restoration of access to electronic public records facilitates the responses to new and pending PATI requests. The PATI process allows the public to promote accountability and transparency for government decision making on any number of important issues to individuals, communities and the country as a whole.”
“Public officers and the public are invited to review the interim guidance along with the Commissioner’s recently published public statement on the impact of the cyber security incident.”
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What difference does the cyberattack really make? The ICO is at least a year behind processing PATI paperwork that was submitted and waiting for a decision.