Following last year’s National Data Strategy, the government has now launched a 10-week consultation on proposed changes to the UK’s regulatory framework for data.
John Edwards, who serves as New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner, has been approved as the government’s preferred candidate as the new Information Commissioner. The government plans a new model for the ICO, including an independent board and chief executive to mirror the structure of regulators such as the Competition and Markets Authority, Ofcom, and the Financial Conduct Authority.
The changes appear to largely loosen data protections, with the government calling it “based on common sense”. It says it wants to remove unnecessary barriers to responsible data use, to help deliver more efficient public services and boost the UK’s reputation in science and technology, such as by simplifying access data for work on medical AI applications and with greater lenience for small organisations with fewer...