I have heard from a number of constituents who are concerned about the Data Protection Bill. I hope to provide some further background to this and address some of the worries raised.
Now that the UK has left the EU, there is opportunity to simplify the clunky parts of our data protection laws and create a world class data rights framework that will allow us to realise the benefits of data use while maintaining high data protection standards.
Data is fundamental to fuelling economic growth in all areas of society from unlocking medical breakthroughs to helping people travel, manage their finances and shop online. It is vital to the development and use of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The Government consulted on an ambitious package of reforms to create a new regime that is pro-growth and trusted for UK citizens and businesses. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was first introduced in 2022 but paused so Ministers could engage in a co-design process with business leaders and data experts – ensuring that the new regime built on the UK’s high standards for data protection and privacy, and seeks to ensure data adequacy while moving away from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach of European Union’s GDPR.
The Bill has since been improved to introduce a simple, clear and business-friendly framework that will not be difficult or costly to implement – taking the best elements of GDPR and providing businesses with more flexibility about how they comply with the new data laws. Furthermore, it will ensure the UK's new regime maintains data adequacy with the EU, and wider international confidence in the UK’s comprehensive data protection standards. By reducing the amount of paperwork and supporting international trade without additional costs if they're already compliant, the changes will give organisations greater confidence about when they can process personal data without consent.
You may be interested to read the Bill's impact assessment which provides further information on this important piece of legislation: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3430/publications.
