What changed
The Information Commission assumed the regulator’s functions on 30 September 2026. The organisation continues to use the ICO name as the Information Commission’s Office. Its core guidance, regulatory responsibilities and public services continue.
Action for your organisation
Use current legal terminology when refreshing governance documents, while keeping recognisable ICO complaint and notification routes for staff and individuals.
Keep the familiar routes available
Staff and individuals will still look for the ICO. Retain clear links to the official notification, complaint and guidance pages when updating the formal regulator name in policies.
Update at the next controlled revision
Use document version control so the change is applied consistently to notices, governance papers and training. Avoid letting a terminology change distract from operational shortcomings.
Continue to review the substance
Accountability, individual rights and notification responsibilities still require functioning processes. The regulator’s transition is an opportunity to check that policy links and escalation routes remain usable.
Put it into practice
Use the relevant topic guide to review the legal conditions, then capture the decision in the working registers. Assign an owner and review the implemented process, not just the wording of the policy.
Official sources
Original explanatory briefing prepared with AI-assisted source comparison. No independent human legal review or regulatory endorsement is claimed.