Campaigners have expressed concerns that new data protection legislation could lead to the misuse of personal data for political purposes, including targeting voters with political messaging.
In a letter addressed to Data Protection Minister Chris Bryant and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, privacy advocates highlighted the potential risks of the bill, which was introduced to Parliament in late 2024. The letter, signed by groups such as the Open Rights Group, Big Brother Watch, and Fair Vote UK, warns that the bill grants the Secretary of State the discretion to determine how personal data is used in political campaigning. This could potentially benefit the ruling party by enabling political targeting without sufficient parliamentary oversight.
The bill, referred to as the data (use and access) bill, would give the Secretary of State the authority to make decisions about personal data use in political campaigns without the current level of scrutiny and risk assessments. Under existing data protection law, organizations, including political parties, must assess the risks of using personal data and balance these with individuals’ rights. This process can be challenged by individuals.
If passed, the new legislation, which is expected to take effect in early 2026, would remove the need for this risk assessment and allow for changes to the rules with less parliamentary involvement. Campaigners have raised concerns about the long-term implications for democracy, emphasizing the need for robust scrutiny of any changes to data protection rules.
James Baker, Programme Manager at Open Rights Group, emphasized the importance of clear and fair rules for political parties using data to engage voters. He stated, “It’s vital that there are clear and fair rules for how political parties are allowed to use our data. Any changes to these rules must be properly scrutinized by Parliament.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology stated that the use of personal data for political campaigning was not part of the proposed bill. They added that regulations under the bill would be subject to several safeguards, including consultation with the Information Commissioner’s Officer and parliamentary approval.
Legal experts, including Ross McKenzie of Addleshaw Goddard, pointed out that while the bill could grant more flexibility in data use, future administrations would not have complete discretion over personal data usage. McKenzie noted that the law aimed to simplify business practices in the UK by making data usage more flexible, but acknowledged the potential concerns from a human rights perspective.
The data bill is designed to reduce regulatory burdens and is expected to contribute £10bn to the UK economy over the next decade. However, the House of Lords Constitution Committee has previously raised concerns about the powers granted by the bill, particularly in relation to secondary legislation.
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