The private messaging channels include apps like WhatsApp as well as personal email accounts which have been tied to MoD security breaches, and Russian hackers stealing trade talk papers
However they also"presented risks to the confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of the data exchanges", the ICO's report added.
"This presented a risk of the effective handling of requests for information in line with the relevant codes of practice under [the Freedom of Information Act ]."The data watchdog, which is responsible for upholding the FOI Act, has issued the Department of Health with a formal order demanding that it to improve how it responds to information requests.
"To make sure wider lessons are learnt, the ICO is also calling for the government to set up a separate review into the use of these channels," it said. "Ministers and officials had to work at extraordinary pace during the pandemic and the use of modern technology was necessary to deliver important public services that saved lives - such as building a testing system from scratch and rolling out our world-leading vaccine programme.
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