Legislation – Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

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Introduction

Part 1
Access to customer data and business data

1 Customer data and business data

2 Power to make provision in connection with customer data

3 Customer data: supplementary

4 Power to make provision in connection with business data

5 Business data: supplementary

6 Decision-makers

7 Interface bodies

8 Enforcement of regulations under this Part

9 Restrictions on powers of investigation etc

10 Financial penalties

11 Fees

12 Levy

13 Financial assistance

14 The FCA and financial services interfaces

15 The FCA and financial services interfaces: supplementary

16 The FCA and financial services interfaces: penalties and levies

17 The FCA and co-ordination with other regulators

18 Liability in damages

19 Duty to review regulations

20 Restrictions on processing and data protection

21 Regulations under this Part: supplementary

22 Regulations under this Part: Parliamentary procedure and consultation

23 Related subordinate legislation

24 Repeal of provisions relating to supply of customer data

25 Other defined terms

26 Index of defined terms for this Part

Part 2
Digital verification services

27 Introductory

28 DVS trust framework

29 Supplementary codes

30 Withdrawal of a supplementary code

31 Review of DVS trust framework and supplementary codes

32 DVS register

33 Registration in the DVS register

34 Power to refuse registration in the DVS register

35 Registration of additional services

36 Supplementary notes

37 Addition of services to supplementary notes

38 Applications for registration, supplementary notes, etc

39 Fees for applications for registration, supplementary notes, etc

40 Duty to remove person from the DVS register

41 Power to remove person from the DVS register

42 Duty to remove services from the DVS register

43 Duty to remove supplementary notes from the DVS register

44 Duty to remove services from supplementary notes

45 Power of public authority to disclose information to registered person

46 Information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs

47 Information disclosed by the Welsh Revenue Authority

48 Information disclosed by Revenue Scotland

49 Code of practice about the disclosure of information

50 Trust mark for use by registered persons

51 Power of Secretary of State to require information

52 Arrangements for third party to exercise functions

53 Report on the operation of this Part

54 Index of defined terms for this Part

55 Powers relating to verification of identity or status

Part 3
National Underground Asset Register

56 National Underground Asset Register: England and Wales

57 Information in relation to apparatus: England and Wales

58 National Underground Asset Register: Northern Ireland

59 Information in relation to apparatus: Northern Ireland

60 Pre-commencement consultation

Part 4
Registers of births and deaths

61 Form in which registers of births and deaths are to be kept

62 Provision of equipment and facilities by local authorities

63 Requirements to sign register

64 Treatment of existing registers and records

65 Minor and consequential amendments

Part 5
Data protection and privacy

Chapter 1 Data protection

Terms used in this Chapter

66 The 2018 Act and the UK GDPR

Definitions in the UK GDPR and the 2018 Act

67 Meaning of research and statistical purposes

68 Consent to processing for the purposes of scientific research

69 Consent to law enforcement processing

Data protection principles

70 Lawfulness of processing

71 The purpose limitation

72 Processing in reliance on relevant international law

Processing of special categories of personal data

73 Elected representatives responding to requests

74 Processing of special categories of personal data

Data subject’s rights

75 Fees and reasons for responses to data subjects’ requests about law enforcement processing

76 Time limits for responding to data subjects’ requests

77 Information to be provided to data subjects

78 Searches in response to data subjects’ requests

79 Data subjects’ rights to information: legal professional privilege exemption

Automated decision-making

80 Automated decision-making

Obligations of controllers

81 Data protection by design: children’s higher protection matters

Logging of law enforcement processing

82 Logging of law enforcement processing

Codes of conduct

83 General processing and codes of conduct

84 Law enforcement processing and codes of conduct

International transfers of personal data

85 Transfers of personal data to third countries and international organisations

Safeguards for processing for research etc purposes

86 Safeguards for processing for research etc purposes

87 Section 86: consequential provision

National security

88 National security exemption

Intelligence services

89 Joint processing by intelligence services and competent authorities

90 Joint processing: consequential amendments

Information Commissioner’s role

91 Duties of the Commissioner in carrying out functions

92 Codes of practice for the processing of personal data

93 Codes of practice: panels and impact assessments

94 Manifestly unfounded or excessive requests to the Commissioner

95 Analysis of performance

96 Notices from the Commissioner

Enforcement

97 Power of the Commissioner to require documents

98 Power of the Commissioner to require a report

99 Assessment notices: removal of OFSTED restriction

100 Interview notices

101 Penalty notices

102 Annual report on regulatory action

103 Complaints by data subjects

104 Court procedure in connection with subject access requests

105 Consequential amendments to the EITSET Regulations

Protection of prohibitions, restrictions and data subject’s rights

106 Protection of prohibitions, restrictions and data subject’s rights

Miscellaneous

107 Regulations under the UK GDPR

108 Further minor provision about data protection

Chapter 2 Privacy and electronic communications

109 The PEC Regulations

110 Interpretation of the PEC Regulations

111 Duty to notify the Commissioner of personal data breach: time periods

112 Storing information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user

113 Emergency alerts: interpretation of time periods

114 Use of electronic mail for direct marketing by charities

115 Commissioner’s enforcement powers

116 Codes of conduct

Part 6
The Information Commission

117 The Information Commission

118 Abolition of the office of Information Commissioner

119 Transfer of functions to the Information Commission

120 Transfer of property etc to the Information Commission

Part 7
Other provision about use of, or access to, data

121 Information standards for health and adult social care in England

122 Grant of smart meter communication licences

123 Disclosure of information to improve public service delivery to undertakings

124 Retention of information by providers of internet services in connection with death of child

125 Information for research about online safety matters

126 Retention of biometric data and recordable offences

127 Retention of pseudonymised biometric data

128 Retention of biometric data from INTERPOL

129 The eIDAS Regulation

130 Recognition of EU conformity assessment bodies

131 Removal of recognition of EU standards etc

132 Recognition of overseas trust products

133 Co-operation between supervisory authority and overseas authorities

134 Time periods: the eIDAS Regulation and the EITSET Regulations

135 Economic impact assessment

136 Report on the use of copyright works in the development of AI systems

137 Progress statement

138 Creating, or requesting the creation of, purported intimate image of adult

Part 8
Final provisions

139 Power to make consequential amendments

140 Regulations

141 Extent

142 Commencement

143 Transitional, transitory and saving provision

144 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 National Underground Asset Register (England and Wales): monetary penalties

Schedule 2 National Underground Asset Register (Northern Ireland): monetary penalties

Schedule 3 Registers of births and deaths: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 4 Lawfulness of processing: recognised legitimate interests

Schedule 5 Purpose limitation: processing to be treated as compatible with original purpose

Schedule 6 Automated decision-making: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 7 Transfers of personal data to third countries etc: general processing

Schedule 8 Transfers of personal data to third countries etc: law enforcement processing

Schedule 9 Transfers of personal data to third countries etc: minor and consequential amendments and transitional provision

Schedule 10 Complaints: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 11 Further minor provision about data protection

Schedule 12 Storing information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user

Schedule 13 Privacy and electronic communications: Commissioner’s enforcement powers

Schedule 14 The Information Commission

Schedule 15 Information standards for health and adult social care in England

Schedule 16 Grant of smart meter communication licences

Schedules

Schedule 12Storing information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user

Section 112

In the PEC Regulations, before Schedule 1 insert—

“Schedule A1Storing information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user

Regulation 6

Interpretation

1.

(1)

In this Schedule, “website” includes a mobile application and any other platform by means of which an information society service is provided.

(2)

For further provision about the interpretation of this Schedule, see regulation 6(2).

2.

(1)

Regulation 6(1) does not prevent a person storing information, or gaining access to information stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user if the subscriber or user—

(a)

is provided with clear and comprehensive information about the purpose of the storage or access, and

(b)

gives consent to the storage or access.

(2)

Where an electronic communications network is used by the same person to store or access information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user for the same purpose on more than one occasion, it is sufficient that the requirements of sub-paragraph (1) are met in respect of the initial use.

(3)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b), the means by which the subscriber or user may signify consent include—

(a)

amending or setting controls on the internet browser which the subscriber or user uses;

(b)

using another application or programme.

Transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network

3.

Regulation 6(1) does not apply to—

(a)

technical storage of information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user, or

(b)

technical access to information stored in such equipment,

for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.

Storage or access strictly necessary to provide an information society service

4.

(1)

Regulation 6(1) does not apply to—

(a)

technical storage of information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user, or

(b)

technical access to information stored in such equipment,

where the storage or access is strictly necessary for the provision of an information society service requested by the subscriber or user.

(2)

For the purposes of this paragraph, the technical storage of, or technical access to, information is strictly necessary for the provision of an information society service requested by the subscriber or user if, for example, the storage or access is strictly necessary—

(a)

to protect information provided in connection with, or relating to, the provision of the service requested,

(b)

to ensure that the security of the terminal equipment of the subscriber or user is not adversely affected by the provision of the service requested,

(c)

to prevent or detect fraud in connection with the provision of the service requested,

(d)

to prevent or detect technical faults in connection with the provision of the service requested, or

(e)

to enable either of the following things to be done where necessary for the provision of the service requested—

(i)

automatically authenticating the identity of the subscriber or user, or

(ii)

maintaining a record of selections made on a website, or information put into a website, by the subscriber or user.

Collecting information for statistical purposes

5.

(1)

Regulation 6(1) does not prevent a person storing information, or gaining access to information stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user if—

(a)

the person provides an information society service,

(b)

the sole purpose of the storage or access is to enable the person—

(i)

to collect information for statistical purposes about how the service is used with a view to making improvements to the service, or

(ii)

to collect information for statistical purposes about how a website by means of which the service is provided is used with a view to making improvements to the website,

(c)

any information that the storage or access enables the person to collect is not shared with any other person except for the purpose of enabling that other person to assist with making improvements to the service or website,

(d)

the subscriber or user is provided with clear and comprehensive information about the purpose of the storage or access, and

(e)

the subscriber or user is given a simple means of objecting, free of charge, to the storage or access and does not object.

(2)

In sub-paragraph (1), the reference to gaining access to information stored in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user does not include a reference to collecting or monitoring information automatically emitted by the terminal equipment.

(3)

Where an electronic communications network is used by the same person to store or access information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user for the same purpose on more than one occasion, it is sufficient that the requirements of sub-paragraph (1)(d) and (e) are met in respect of the initial use.

Website appearance etc

6.

(1)

Regulation 6(1) does not prevent a person storing information, or gaining access to information stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user if—

(a)

the person provides an information society service by means of a website,

(b)

the sole purpose of the storage or access is—

(i)

to enable the way the website appears or functions when displayed on, or accessed by, the terminal equipment to adapt to the preferences of the subscriber or user, or

(ii)

to otherwise enable an enhancement of the appearance or functionality of the website when displayed on, or accessed by, the terminal equipment,

(c)

the subscriber or user is provided with clear and comprehensive information about the purpose of the storage or access, and

(d)

the subscriber or user is given a simple means of objecting, free of charge, to the storage or access and does not object.

(2)

Where an electronic communications network is used by the same person to store or access information in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user for the same purpose on more than one occasion, it is sufficient that the requirements of sub-paragraph (1)(c) and (d) are met in respect of the initial use.

Emergency assistance

7.

Regulation 6(1) does not prevent a person storing information, or gaining access to information stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user if—

(a)

the person receives a communication from the terminal equipment,

(b)

the communication is a request from the subscriber or user for emergency assistance or otherwise indicates that the subscriber or user is in need of emergency assistance, and

(c)

the sole purpose of the storage or access is to enable the geographical position of the subscriber or user to be ascertained with a view to the emergency assistance being provided.”