Who does the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) answer to?

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent authority established to uphold information rights and promote data privacy. The ICO answers to Parliament, ensuring accountability and transparency in how it operates. This relationship allows Parliament to oversee the ICO's activities and ensures that it acts within the legal frameworks established by UK law.

Being accountable to Parliament means the ICO is subject to scrutiny, and it must report on its performance and adherence to its statutory duties. This oversight is crucial for maintaining trust in the organization's ability to manage personal data and enforce rights related to information privacy.

In this context, while there may be interactions with the Prime Minister and other governmental bodies, the direct accountability and reporting line of the ICO is uniquely to Parliament. The other options relate to different entities that either do not have a direct oversight role over the ICO or exist in different contexts, such as the European Commission, which relates to broader EU matters, and does not govern the ICO's operations.