Briefing on the second reading of the Data (Use and Access) Bill

In this briefing for the second reading of the Data (Use and Access) Bill for members of the House of Lords, 5Rights welcomes the bill’s provisions aimed at increasing the accountability of tech platforms. However, significant concerns remain regarding certain provisions that amend key principles of the UK’s data protection regime. These changes risk weakening existing protections and transparency requirements concerning children’s personal data, potentially exposing them to harm.

The brief outlines and analyses specific provisions that, if implemented, could significantly undermine children’s safety online. For instance, clauses that liberalise the use of personal data for scientific purposes may enable tech companies to exploit children’s personal information under the pretext of ‘scientific research’, using it to develop products and features without adequate safeguards.

Additionally, we are deeply concerned that the Government is seeking to water down existing rights and it is failing to introduce regulations or rules to safeguard against discrimination in decisions made by AI systems, despite mounting evidence of the harm caused by such practices.

The Government must provide clarity and more robust safeguards to protect children
from discriminatory outcomes in AI-driven decisions, rather than seeking to erode these critical protections.