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UK’s Data Deal with EU at Risk as New Law Sparks Industry Debate

By |2025-06-30T06:49:51+00:00June 30th, 2025|

The recently passed Data (Use & Access) Act 2025 has hit a nerve across industries, with concerns mounting over its impact on UK businesses and their vital data flows with the EU. While the Government insists the new law will simplify compliance and boost innovation, critics – including the Law Society of England & Wales and privacy campaigners argue that it threatens the UK’s data adequacy status with Brussels. The EU has extended the current adequacy agreement by six months to December 27, 2025, but a formal review is underway. If adequacy is withdrawn, it could jeopardise the free flow of personal data, putting £161bn in trade at risk and creating barriers for UK companies operating internationally. Tensions are rising. [...]

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Update on the UK Data (Use & Access) Act – and Why Clean Data Is More Crucial Than Ever

By |2025-06-18T11:26:49+00:00June 18th, 2025|

On 11 June 2025, UK Parliament completed the final round of “ping‑pong” over the Data (Use and Access) Bill in the House of Lords, paving the way for Royal Assent and its conversion into the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 This is a major milestone in updating the UK’s data protection landscape post‑Brexit—and it signals that smart, responsible data use is now firmly on the national agenda. What You Should Know The Act introduces several important refinements: A staggered roll‑out of updated UK GDPR provisions, including relaxed rules around cookies, Data Subject Access Requests (DSAR), automated decision‑making, and strengthened provisions for scientific research A formal category of “recognised legitimate interests”, clarifying when data can be used without a full [...]

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What’s Going on with the Data (Use and Access) Bill?

By |2025-05-14T11:02:06+00:00May 14th, 2025|

On 14th May 2025, the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Bill reached a critical stage in Parliament, following heated debate over its implications for AI, copyright, and how data is shared. While the headlines have focused on creative rights and artificial intelligence, there’s a bigger picture emerging — one that matters to anyone involved in managing, using, or maintaining quality data. Originally introduced in late 2024, the bill aims to improve how data is accessed and used across the public and private sectors. It supports initiatives like digital ID systems and encourages wider data sharing to unlock innovation. But as it moves between the House of Commons and the Lords, disagreement over specific provisions — particularly a new transparency requirement [...]

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A Data Protection Update

By |2024-06-04T08:32:56+00:00June 4th, 2024|

Last week marked the sixth anniversary of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a landmark in data protection that revolutionised how personal data is handled across Europe. However, as many people reflect on GDPR's impact, the future of data protection regulation in the UK hangs in the balance following the recent mothballing of the Data Protection & Digital Information Bill (DPDI). The Demise of DPDI The Government’s decision to exclude the DPDI from its “wash up” process, a fast-track mechanism for essential legislation before Parliament is dissolved, has led to significant uncertainty. Initially introduced in 2021, the DPDI aimed to modernise the UK's data protection framework. However, it was still navigating the committee stage in the House of Lords when [...]

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EU passes AI Act

By |2024-03-19T10:18:06+00:00March 19th, 2024|

The European Parliament has passed the AI Act, the first major AI regulatory framework to become law. It is being seen by experts as potentially setting an international benchmark akin to the impact of GDPR on data privacy standards back in 2018. The framework aims to ensure transparent development and utilisation of AI within the EU, establishing guidelines for AI systems deemed high-risk. In response to concerns from the tech industry about potential restrictions on innovations like ChatGPT, the legislation adopts a risk-based, tiered regulatory strategy rather than a broad, one-size-fits-all approach. It also specifies varying compliance timelines based on the perceived risk level of AI applications. The legislation categorises AI according to its risk level, delineating prohibited uses, essential [...]

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Are we any closer to UK data protection laws?

By |2024-02-27T07:30:25+00:00February 27th, 2024|

Ummmm – in a word, no…. Last week Secretary of State Michelle Donelan brought the Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill back into the House of Commons to secure an extension. Its expiration has now been extended by 280 days, setting a new deadline of December 12, 2024. This extension was critical; without it, the bill faced lapsing on March 8, 12 months after its initial presentation. Following a second reading before Christmas, the DPDI Bill will now make its way through the House of Lords. However, the timeframe for this phase remains a subject of much speculation among political and data circles – particularly with an election looming. One of the more formidable tasks confronting the Lords is [...]

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2024: A year for data protection regulation reform?

By |2023-11-27T12:14:35+00:00November 27th, 2023|

Following its airing at the recent King’s Speech the much-discussed Data Protection and Digital Innovation Bill (DPDI) will have its ‘remaining stages’ in the House of Commons on 29 November. There are 21 possible amendments to the Bill all most of which have been referred to as ‘common-sense’ and it is expected to fly through parliament, meaning it is likely to become law early next year. The DMA supports the ratification of the Bill having been heavily involved in shaping many of its elements. Key differences to GDPR include: How personal data is defined Under DPDI information will only be considered as identifiable by a person other than the controller or processor if that other person obtains the information as [...]

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Keeping Pace with AI Ethics

By |2023-09-08T12:13:43+00:00September 8th, 2023|

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our lives, from voice assistants to recommendation systems and autonomous vehicles. Its transformative power has brought both remarkable advancements and profound ethical dilemmas. Recent calls from MPs urging the Prime Minister to pass new legislation for AI safety in the UK, before the EU takes the lead, have brought the spotlight back onto the importance of AI ethics and the critical role data hygiene plays in ensuring safe AI systems. The Call for AI Safety Legislation MPs are sounding an alarm, warning that the UK risks falling behind in the global AI race if comprehensive AI safety legislation is not put in place promptly. The European Union is poised to establish [...]

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The end of the road for GDPR?

By |2022-10-05T14:56:16+00:00October 5th, 2022|

Is the UK going to be free of the constraints of GDPR? If Michelle Donelan’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference is anything to go by, then GDPR’s days in the UK are numbered. The new secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport said GDPR had been inherited from the EU, and its bureaucratic nature was limiting the potential for businesses. She announced that the UK would be replacing GDPR with its own business and consumer-friendly, data protection system. It wasn’t clear if this was to be the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (which itself has superseded the Data Reform Bill), or an entirely separate initiative. Whichever it may be, apparently the plan is to protect consumer [...]

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Regulatory update: Why your mailing data is going to get even more valuable

By |2022-07-12T10:51:25+00:00July 12th, 2022|

The latest figures from JICMail, Royal Mail and The DMA show that direct mail is experiencing something of a resurgence. Volumes are at their highest level for years with increasing number of brands adding it into their marketing mix, it is now the most authoritative advertising channel with consumer trust higher for direct mail than any other media and with incentives from Royal Mail being extended until September it is also incredibly cost effective. And if what is in the regulatory pipeline both in the UK and EU it seems that this renaissance won’t be short lived. If anything, direct mail will become even more influential. Recent updates from the DMA in its Responsible Marketing Update webinar reveal several reasons [...]

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