Commons dismissed the lord to pass the law without ai protection measures
The UK’s latest data law removes some troubling requirements, but does not protect creatives fighting AI IP theft.
The UK Data (Usage and Access) bill cleared the final parliamentary hurdle on Wednesday after weeks of legislation between the House and the House.
Once the bill receives royal consent, it becomes the Data (Usage and Access) Act of 2025, which will mark a major change in the data protection and privacy environment.
The proposal, first introduced under the Conservative Government as a Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) bill, struggled through multiple administrations before it was abandoned in the “wash-up” phase ahead of the last general election.
The new labor-driven version, released on October 23, 2024, retained much of the structure of the DPDI bill, but removed some of the more controversial elements.
For example, DPDI requirements for all businesses to perform data protection impact assessments and have data protection personnel are not listed in the new law.
The controversy still lurks around AI
The final stage of the discussion between the Commons and the Lords focused on artificial intelligence and copyright, not privacy.
At the heart of the conflict was a proposed amendment requiring high-tech companies to disclose the use of copyrighted materials in training AI models.
They warned, along with the lord’s supporters, that the inability to include this safeguard would allow AI developers to take advantage of UK-generated content without permission or payment.
Sir Elton John called the current approach “advanced thief,” adding that artists face existential threats when AI models are trained in their work without surveillance or compensation.
Despite the supply of pressure, the government rejected the proposed amendments, claiming it would curb AI innovations and reduce the risk of the UK falling behind in a rapidly evolving, globally competitive sector.
The Minister pointed out another ongoing discussion on copyright and AI and plans for a dedicated AI bill for the future (although the artificial intelligence (regulation) bill is a long way from passing it to the law).
Disagreements led to the bill repeatedly bounces between the House and the House. I tried not to let either side get upset.
However, according to the Parliamentary Act, lords can only reject the bill three times. After this, the speaker can bypass the lord and present a bill of royal consent.
“We can only do a lot here. I think we did that. The government and other places (commons) are listening now,” said Berkeley Lord, a composer and broadcaster.
What the bill actually does
The AI-related controversy stole headlines, but the data (usage and access) itself contains other drastic data reforms.
NHS Data Sharing: NHS trust makes it easier to share patient data and improves healthcare delivery. Bereaved Parents: Grant parents the right to access digital data of their deceased children. Digital Infrastructure: Enables the creation of 3D underground maps of UK pipes and cables. Deepfake Violation: Introduces new legal crimes targeting the malicious use of Deepfake technology.
The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) says the law will free NHS staff and police from more than a million hours of administrative work, helping families with grief and improving online safety.
“The bill is about using data to grow the economy and improve people’s lives,” DSIT said in a statement.
The government has declared victory, but the battle may only be beginning. Barones Kidron, the filmmaker who led the lord’s amendment, called the bill’s passage “at best Pyrrhic’s victory.”
She argued that by omitting the protection of creators, the UK essentially distributed national intellectual assets to American tech companies.
The News Media Association, which supported the position of the lord, issued a warning through CEO Owen Meredith. He said:
If the bill moves to become law, attention will now be focused on the government’s promised AI law and copyright consultations, both of which could rekindle debate.
For many, the final passage of the bill is only the beginning.
