Data Protection and Digital Information Bill to be introduced in Parliament today

The government is today introducing its Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (previously referred to as the Data Reform Bill) in Parliament. In addition to data protection aspects, the Bill will regulate the provision of electronic signatures, electronic seals, other trust services and connected issues not in the current Data Protection Act 2018.

The debates on the Bill will take place in the autumn when there is a new Prime Minister and Cabinet in place.

Also today, the government has introduced a policy paper on AI. A White Paper will be published later this year, together with a public consultation.

The new AI paper introduces six core principles that regulators must apply, with flexibility to implement these in ways that best meet the use of AI in their sectors. The government is currently not planning to introduce specific AI legislation.

The Parliament’s summer recess starts on 22 July 2022.

See: UK Parliament - Order Paper for Monday 18 July 2022

Privacy Laws & Business and Norton Rose Fulbright organised a briefing session with the DCMS policy team on 14 July. Read more in the July edition of PL&B UK Report, out this week.

See: The policy paper on AI. Comments on this paper are sought by 26 September 2022.