Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 3 of the Guardians of Data podcast. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information.
In the past few weeks, we have had a stark reminder of why transparency in public life is a democratic necessity. The US Government’s release of millions of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation has triggered, amongst other things, the arrest of the King’s brother, the sacking and subsequent arrest of a former Government minister, political jeopardy for the Prime Minister and questions about the future of the British monarchy.
In Episode 3, our guest is Maurice Frankel OBE, Director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information. We discuss the remarkable story behind the UK’s Freedom of Information Act. From his early work with the campaigner Des Wilson in the 1980s, to the later attacks launched to weaken FOI’s impact, Maurice shares insights on:
• Life before the Act and how public authorities’ culture has evolved
• The key battles to see the law passed and fully implemented
• Lessons from major disclosures, inquiries and data releases
• FOI shortcomings, from excessive public interest extensions to the need for proactive publication
• Emerging threats to transparency
Hear what still inspires one of the UK’s foremost transparency advocates and why FOI remains a vital tool for public accountability.
Listen via this link, or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Previous episodes of the Guardians of Data podcast have featured Jon Baines, talking about his career as a Data Protection specialist and the hot issues in information governance, and Lynn Wyeth discussing the recent controversy around Grok AI.
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 2 of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big issues shaping the IG profession.
In the first episode, we were joined by Jon Baines, a Senior Data Protection Specialist at Mishcon de Reya LLP and the long-standing chair of NADPO. In a wide ranging conversation, Jon shared his journey into IG, his advice for both new starters and seasoned professionals and his perspective on the future of the profession.
In Episode 2 we discuss the recent controversy around Grok AI.
Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI and integrated into the social media platform X, has caught the attention of governments and regulators across the world after it was used to edit pictures of real women to show them in revealing clothes and suggestive poses. In the UK, Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office have opened formal investigations, a significant step that signals how seriously AI-related risks are now being taken.
This controversy raises fundamental questions about how AI systems are designed and overseen and about whether existing laws and board-level oversight are keeping pace. In episode 2, we unpack these issues with the help of Lynn Wyeth, an expert in AI, data protection and responsible technology.
Listen via this link or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Act Now is pleased to bring you the first episode of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big issues shaping the IG profession.
In information governance, there’s no substitute for learning from those who have walked the path before us. Experienced IG leaders bring a wealth of knowledge from years at the frontline of data protection and information rights – navigating challenges, overcoming obstacles, and shaping best practice along the way. By listening to their stories, we can all grow in confidence and prepare for the IG challenges of tomorrow.
In the first episode, we are joined by one such IG leader: Jon Baines is a Senior Data Protection Specialist at Mishcon de Reya LLP where he advises on complex data protection and FOI matters. Jon isn’t a lawyer in the traditional sense yet is listed in Legal 500 as a “Rising Star” in the Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity category. Jon is the long-standing chair of the National Association of Data Protection (NADPO) and Freedom of Information Officers. He is regularly sought for comment by specialist and national media and writes extensively on data protection matters.
In our conversation, Jon shares his journey into IG, his advice for both new starters and seasoned professionals and his perspective on the future of the profession.
Listen via the player below, or on your preferred podcast app. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.
Data protection is often framed as a question of compliance. Regulations, policies, and frameworks dominate much of the discussion.
In practice, however, the most important questions are about responsibility, trust, and judgement.
Every organisation that collects or uses personal data is, in effect, a custodian of that information. With that role comes an expectation: that personal data will be handled carefully, used appropriately, and respected as something that belongs to people, not systems. Meeting those expectations is rarely straightforward.
Day-to-day data protection decisions are often made under pressure. They involve trade-offs, uncertainty, and situations where the law does not provide a simple or immediate answer. Legislation defines the boundaries, but it does not resolve every ethical or operational question organisations face.
This is where many of the real challenges of data protection sit, in the grey areas between what is permitted and what is appropriate.
Guardians of Data was created to explore this space. The podcast brings together people working in privacy and information governance to talk openly about the realities of responsible data use. Rather than focusing on theory or compliance checklists, the conversations centre on how decisions are made in real organisations, and how trust is maintained when handling personal data.
Each episode is short and focused, examining judgement calls, ethical considerations, and the expectations placed on organisations entrusted with personal data. The aim is not to provide definitive answers, but to encourage thoughtful discussion about what good data stewardship looks like in practice.
Guardians of Data is intended as a space for reflection and conversation for anyone navigating the responsibilities that come with using personal data in today’s digital environment.
The biggest data protection challenges facing organisations do not stem solely from cyber-attacks or AI deployment; they also arise from employees. Sometimes it’s an innocent mistake; an email sent to the wrong person, confidential information shared inadvertently or a document uploaded to the wrong system. In other cases, the issues are more serious; employees accessing information they have no…
“There’s a significant lack of transparency around police use of predictive policing systems in the UK. Most people don’t even know about their use in policing… People don’t know, if they are ever stopped and searched by police, it’s as a result of a predictive profiling or risk assessment system… So there is a significant lack of transparency, which is particularly worrying given the lack of…
“Today, it’s actually very, very easy for attackers to take a piece of malware and effectively launch one hundred different versions all at once.” Caroline Wong, Author and Cybersecurity Expert Episode 11 of the Guardians of Data Podcast is out now. In this episode we discuss how AI is reshaping trust, identity, cybersecurity, and organisational accountability. In recent weeks, governments, regulators and cyber security professionals have been gripped by the…
“Think clarity of purpose. Find your why. Find the reason that you’re doing what you do. It just puts fire in my belly every day knowing that I have such a clarity of purpose.” Emma Martins, Former Data Protection Commissioner for Guernsey Episode 10 of the Guardians of Data Podcast is out now. It is a fascinating and deeply human conversation with…
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) is an essential tool for the journalist seeking to hold public institutions to account. But for those handling FOI requests from journalists, the challenge is to balance minimising the resource burden on the organisation with maintaining opennesss and transparency. This requires a good understanding of journalists’ motivation, tactics and pressures. In the latest episode of the Guardians of Data podcast we are joined by Martin…
“I think privacy is often given a bad name. We talk about it in abstract terms; we should abandon thinking about it in that way. What you do to my data, you do to me. There is no real distinction anymore between our online life and our offline life. So whatever you know about me through my digital footprint, you…
“Information governance professionals are the bedrock for deploying good governance of AI. We need to be there at the start of the actual thinking process.” Tahir Latif, Global Practice Lead for Data Privacy & Responsible AI at Cognizant The last two years has seen a massive increase in AI deployment. Previously the domain of Science Fiction, AI is now everywhere…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 6 of the Guardians of Data podcast. Think about the last time you walked down a busy street, sat in a pub, or queued for a train. Now imagine that moment, completely ordinary to you, being filmed by a stranger, uploaded to TikTok or YouTube and watched by millions. Maybe it’s monetised; maybe it’s mocked. One thing is for sure though,…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 5 of the Guardians of Data podcast. In information governance, there is no substitute for learning from those who have walked the path before us. Experienced IG leaders bring a wealth of knowledge from years at the frontline of data protection and information rights – navigating challenges, overcoming obstacles and shaping best practice along the way. By sharing…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 4 of the Guardians of Data podcast. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance; from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. The topic of this episode is cyber security. Every week we read about organisations being hacked, held to ransom or their data being stolen. The BBC recently discovered,…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 3 of the Guardians of Data podcast. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In the past few weeks, we have had a stark reminder of why transparency in public life is a democratic necessity. The US Government’s release of millions…
Act Now is pleased to bring you episode 2 of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to unpack the big…
Act Now is pleased to bring you the first episode of a new podcast; Guardians of Data. This is a show where we explore the world of information law and information governance – from privacy and AI to cybersecurity and freedom of information. In each episode we will be speaking with experts and practitioners to…
Data protection is often framed as a question of compliance. Regulations, policies, and frameworks dominate much of the discussion. In practice, however, the most important questions are about responsibility, trust, and judgement. Every organisation that collects or uses personal data is, in effect, a custodian of that information. With that role comes an expectation: that…
