Lords 'tidies up' Data (Use and Access) Bill
6 February 2025
Members of the House of Lords 'tidied up' the Data (Use and Access) Bill during third reading on Wednesday 5 February.
The aim of the Data (Use and Access) Bill is to harness the power of data for economic growth, support a modern digital government, and improve people’s lives.
Third reading
Third reading, a chance for members to 'tidy up' the bill, ensuring the text is effective, workable and without loopholes, took place on Wednesday 5 February.
Proposed changes
Members speaking at third reading put down amendments (PDF) to be considered on subjects including:
- higher protections for children's personal data
- creating intimate images.
Creating intimate images without consent
Among other changes, the government introduced a new change to the bill, creating an offence when someone intentionally creates 'a purported intimate image of another person' without their consent. This follows proposals by Lords members at earlier stages of the bill's passage through the Lords.
Votes
There were two divisions (votes) on amendments regarding:
- removing a 'reasonable excuse' defence for a defendant who has intentionally created an intimate image of a victim without their consent
- giving courts the powers to sentence convicted defendants of sexually explicit 'deepfakes' to a term of imprisonment.
Following votes, the amendments were agreed to and the changes were made.
Catch up
- Watch live Parliament TV.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
Explore further information
Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.
Next steps
Following completion of third reading, the bill now passes to the House of Commons for its consideration.
What's happened so far?
Report stage
Report stage, a further chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes, took place on Tuesday 21 and Tuesday 28 January.
Committee stage
Committee stage, line-by-line examination of the bill, concluded on Wednesday 18 December.
Second reading
Second reading, the main debate on the key principles and main purpose of the draft law, took place on Tuesday 19 November.
Image: Pixabay (Gerd Altmann)
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