Handley Gill
LEGAL, REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE CONSULTANTS

Data Protection Reform

UK Data Protection Reform

Data (Use and Access) Bill 2024 (HL Bill 40 2024-25)

Timeline showing progression through Parliament of the Data (Use & Access) Bill 2024

Progression of the Data (Use & Access) Bill 2024

“Digital Information & Smart Data Bill:
The Government wants to ensure we harness the power of data for economic
growth, to support a modern digital government, and to improve people’s lives.”
— King's Speech 2024 Background Briefing Notes

Data Protection & Digital Information Bill, and Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (No.2)

Progression of UK data protection reform under the Conservative governments

Progression of UK data protection reform under the Conservative governments

“The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed”
— Queen's Speech (10 May 2022)
“Today, the Government is introducing the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill in the House of Commons... We now have the opportunity to seize the benefits of Brexit and transform the UK’s independent data laws. We have designed these new updates to our data protection framework so it works in our interests, protects our citizens, and unburdens our businesses. Through this Bill we will realise the opportunities of responsible data use whilst maintaining the UK’s high data protection standards... We are reducing the burdens on businesses that have held the UK back from the benefits of greater personal data use before now. By focussing on outcomes not box-ticking, we will unburden businesses from prescriptive requirements and empower them to protect personal data in the most proportionate and appropriate way.”
— Matt Warman MP, Minister for Media, Data & Digital Infrastructure (18 July 2022)
“... we will be replacing GDPR with our own business and consumer-friendly, British data protection system”
— Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (03 October 2022)
Featured
Back on the Data Protection Reform Merry-Go-Round
Back on the Data Protection Reform Merry-Go-Round

The new Labour government has today (23 October 2024) introduced the Data (Use and Access) Bill in the House of Lords, in the latest attempt to reform the UK’s data protection laws as set out in the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, Data Protection Act 1998 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.

Pledge or hedge?
Pledge or hedge?

Following the announcement of the snap General Election to take place on 04 July 2024, and the launch of the major parties’ manifesto pledges during London Tech Week 2024, Handley Gill analyses the manifesto pledges of the major UK-wide political parties and their implications for cyber security, data protection, online safety, artificial intelligence (AI), digital markets, content regulation, reputation management, open justice, access to information, human rights and ESG.

Washed-up or fallen down the plughole?
Washed-up or fallen down the plughole?

Following the announcement on 22 May 2024 of the snap General Election to take place on 04 July 2024, Parliament has been prorogued with effect from 24 May 2024 (meaning Parliamentary business is suspended thereafter) and will be dissolved with effect from 30 May 2024. The brief period between the announcement of the election and prorogation is known as wash up, when political parties must negotiate to pass outstanding Bills, or parts of them, or Bills fall. Prorogation also bring an end to the work of the various Parliamentary Committees. Handley Gill’s consultants consider which Bills have been washed up and which have fallen in the context of cyber security, data protection, online safety, artificial intelligence (AI), digital markets, content regulation, reputation management, open justice, access to information, human rights and ESG, as well as the work of Parliamentary Committees which were either rushed out or dropped.

Consigned to a watery grave
Consigned to a watery grave

The snap General Election announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for 04 July 2024, and the consequent curtailment of the Parliamentary session, will mean that there will be insufficient time for the remaining Parliamentary stages of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, including the House of Lords Report stage which was due to commence from 10 June, to be undertaken prior to the prorogation and dissolution of Parliament.

King's Speech 2023
King's Speech 2023

Handley Gill’s consultants highlight and consider the content of the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament 2023, and the implications for those with an interest in data protection, privacy, freedom of expression, online safety, cyber security, broadcasting and VOD regulation, digital markets regulation and/or artificial intelligence.