Forty years ago, 10,000 documents required four-drawer filing cabinets for storage; today, such documents take up no physical space when stored on the Cloud. The advancement in data storage has transformed the information landscape, yielding challenges in storing, transferring, and using personal data appropriately.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recently opened an exhibition at Manchester Central Library, showcasing 40 items that illustrate the evolution of data privacy and its significance in major news events over the last four decades. John Edwards, the information commissioner, explained that the exhibition aims to show how complicated data-related terms, like data controller and data processor, directly impact people’s lives.

The exhibition includes items such as a Pokémon toy, a floppy disk, and a Tesco Clubcard, highlighting the ICO’s impact on society. Edwards’ favorite item is a pair of lawn aerator shoes, used in an early example of enforcement action against a company trading customer information for profit.

The ICO invites the public to suggest objects that have influenced the data landscape, symbolizing the subjective nature of privacy. As the data landscape has evolved significantly over 40 years, individuals now generate tens of thousands more personal data than previously.

Edwards stated that companies begin to capitalize on this data, resulting in numerous data transactions annually. The ICO struggles to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation, taking time to investigate and enforce privacy standards. The future of privacy is uncertain, with factors like geopolitical situations, quantum computing, and AI advancements influencing its development.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/03/manchester-exhibition-information-commissioners-office-floppy-disks-vaccine-cards-privacy-rights-uk