The Government's revised data bill will help to boost innovation while upholding privacy rights and EU adequacy

8 Mar 2023 11:14 PM

The revised Bill addresses some of the biggest barriers organisations face when handling personal data for research, innovation and basic business services.

On Wednesday 8th March 2023, the UK Government introduced the Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) No. 2 into Parliament, which enhances and replaces the originally proposed reforms to the UK GDPR in the first DPDI Bill, July 2022.

The changes come after industry groups including techUK called on the Government to push proposals in the Bill further to make the the UK's data protection laws more user friendly for researchers, innovators and smaller companies.

Following informal consultation with a range of stakeholders including techUK and consumer groups such as Which?, the UK Government yesterday set out the five areas they have targeted for further reform:

Commenting on the reforms, techUK CEO Julian David said,

“techUK yesterday welcomeed DPDI announcement which sets out new targeted adjustments, co-designed with industry to help offer companies more legal confidence when conducting research, carrying our basic business services, and developing new technologies such as AI.  At the same time, the changes retain levels of data protection in line with the highest global standards, and adequacy with the EU.

However, there are still outstanding questions on how some reforms will work in practice, such as an opt-out model for cookie consent, and new obligations around tracking and reporting unwanted calls, which we look forward to working closely with officials on.”

Next steps

Overall, we believe the Government has well leveraged its opportunity to make the UK GDPR more workable for all organisations, in line with techUK's vision for the future of UK data governance. We would like to see these ready-to-go benefits seized by industry as soon as the Parliamentary timetable can allow.

Further delays to the Bill will hold back benefits the new laws can offer to businesses, and also risk hampering the sensible balance the Government has struck between pro-innovation reform, and maintaining a high standard of data protection rights.

Now laid before Parliament, the Bill will undergo a scrutiny period which will be crucial for addressing outstanding questions on reforms such as those related to nuisance calls, cookies and Secretary of State regulation making powers. Once passed, the regulator will also play a vital role in providing organisations and individuals with guidance for implementing the new regime.

As the Bill moves forward for debate in Parliament, techUK will continue to work closely with Government, MPs, and the regulator to get the new rules over the line.

Julian David, CEO, techUK

Julian David is the CEO of techUK, the leading technology trade association that aims to realise the positive outcomes of what digital technology can achieve through innovation and collaboration, and serves on its board of directors.

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Dani Dhiman, Policy Manager, Data, techUK

Dani joined techUK in October 2021 as Policy Manager for Data.

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As Associate Director for Policy Neil leads techUK's domestic policy development in the UK. In this role he regularly engages with UK and Devolved Government Ministers, senior civil servants and members of the UK’s Parliaments with the aim of supporting government and industry to work together to make the UK the best place to start, scale and develop technology companies. Neil also acts as a spokersperson for techUK on UK policy in the media and at Parliamentary Committees.

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