The ICO, or Information Commissioner's Office, is the UK's independent authority responsible for upholding information rights in the public interest. It promotes openness by public bodies and ensures data privacy for individuals. The ICO regulates and enforces data protection laws, including the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the UK. It also handles complaints related to data protection, registers organizations that process personal data, and has enforcement powers such as issuing fines for breaches. The ICO is sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and operates as a non-departmental public body reporting directly to the UK Parliament.