Data Protection (Independent Complaint) Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Grants powers to representative bodies and organisations to exercise independent complaint and remedy rights on behalf of data subjects under the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Aims to improve access to data protection remedies for people who cannot or choose not to complain directly.
• Sets out who may act as a representative and how such rights are exercised (with safeguards to protect data subjects).
• Currently in the Lords at the second reading stage; originates in the Lords.
• Falls within technology policy and the data protection enforcement framework.

Progress

The bill has completed its first stage in the Lords (first reading on 2020-01-29) and is at the second reading in the Lords; further stages (committee, report, third reading) would typically follow before moving to the Commons.

Voting

In the five recorded Lords divisions on amendments, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru and Independents generally supported amendments, while Conservatives and the DUP largely opposed; Sinn Féin and the Speaker did not vote in those divisions.