Data Protection and Digital Information Bill briefing

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was introduced to Parliament in July
2022 following a detailed and extensive consultation on proposed changes to the UK’s
data protection regime. The Bill will receive its second reading on 5 September.
We are pleased the government has listened to and responded to our concerns and
those of others on aspects of the proposals that would significantly undermine data
protection rights.

While we welcome parts of the Bill, particularly clarification of the rules for businesses
and a move to make it easier for users to manage their consent preferences through
the development of new tools, we are concerned that the government has not formally
recognised the extraordinary advances in child protection brought about by the Age
Appropriate Design Code (the UK’s regulatory code for child data protection under the
Data Protection Act 2018) and note several issues that will threaten the UK’s reputation
as the world leader in children’s data protection.

We call on MPs from all parties to ensure the Age Appropriate Design Code is both
named and protected in the Bill.