The Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill had its Second Reading at the House of Commons on 17 April. Several Labour MPs said that while they are largely supportive of the government’s aims for a data reform, this Bill does not fulfil this objective.

Aspects that attracted many questions were the wide-ranging powers for the Secretary of State to approve codes of practice, and the ICO’s independence. Labour MPs also said that while co-design with industry and other stakeholders has been a good way forward, the voice of big tech companies is too strong, and there is a power imbalance between big tech and people. There were also concerns over the UK’s EU data adequacy.