Legislation – Data Protection Act 2018
Changes to legislation:
Data Protection Act 2018, Section 166 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 166:
- s. 26(2)(f)(ai) omitted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 9
- s. 44(1)(da) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 10(2)(a)
- s. 44(5)(ca) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 10(3)(a)
- s. 45(2)(ea) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 11(2)(a)
- s. 45(5)(ca) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 11(3)(a)
- s. 45A(2)(ca) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 12
- s. 48(1)(b)(iia) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 13(2)(a)
- s. 48(4)(ba) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 13(3)(a)
- s. 149(5A) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 16(3)
- s. 157(4A) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 18
- s. 166(1) words omitted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 20(3)
- s. 187(2)(za) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 21(3)(a)
- Sch. 3 para. 8(1)(y) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 78(3)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 26(2)(f)(ai) omitted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 9
- s. 44(1)(da) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 10(2)(a)
- s. 44(5)(ca) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 10(3)(a)
- s. 45(2)(ea) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 11(2)(a)
- s. 45(5)(ca) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 11(3)(a)
- s. 45A(2)(ca) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 12
- s. 48(1)(b)(iia) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 13(2)(a)
- s. 48(4)(ba) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 13(3)(a)
- s. 149(5A) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 16(3)
- s. 157(4A) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 18
- s. 187(2)(za) inserted by 2025 c. 18 Sch. 10 para. 21(3)(a)
- Sch. 3 para. 8(1)(y) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 78(3)
PART 6Enforcement
Complaints
166Orders to progress complaints
(1)
This section applies where, after a data subject makes a complaint under section 165 or Article 77 of the F1UK GDPR, the Commissioner—
(a)
fails to take appropriate steps to respond to the complaint,
(b)
fails to provide the complainant with information about progress on the complaint, or of the outcome of the complaint, before the end of the period of 3 months beginning when the Commissioner received the complaint, or
(c)
if the Commissioner’s consideration of the complaint is not concluded during that period, fails to provide the complainant with such information during a subsequent period of 3 months.
(2)
The Tribunal may, on an application by the data subject, make an order requiring the Commissioner—
(a)
to take appropriate steps to respond to the complaint, or
(b)
to inform the complainant of progress on the complaint, or of the outcome of the complaint, within a period specified in the order.
(3)
An order under subsection (2)(a) may require the Commissioner—
(a)
to take steps specified in the order;
(b)
to conclude an investigation, or take a specified step, within a period specified in the order.
(4)
Section 165(5) applies for the purposes of subsections (1)(a) and (2)(a) as it applies for the purposes of section 165(4)(a).