Digital Information and Smart Data Bill: An overview from the King’s Speech

The UK’s Digital Information and Smart Data Bill is a landmark initiative aimed at revolutionizing how data is managed and utilized, with far-reaching implications for individuals, businesses, and the economy as a whole. As announced in the recent King’s Speech, the Bill will change how the UK deals with data, and here are the five things you should know about it:

• Digital Verification Services: Secure and efficient methods for individuals to verify their identity and share personal information online.
• National Underground Asset Register: Standardized access to information about underground pipes and cables to improve safety and efficiency in construction.
• Smart Data Schemes: Allowing customers to securely share data with authorized third parties for better financial advice and service deals.
• Modernizing the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): Enhancing the ICO’s regulatory capabilities to oversee and enforce data protection laws.
• Supporting Scientific Research: Streamlined data sharing and usage protocols to drive innovation and improve research outcomes.

Want to learn more? Here are the details:

The Bill includes extensive provisions aimed at regulating various aspects of data processing and usage. These include:

• Regulation of the processing of information relating to identified or identifiable living individuals.
• Provision for services that use information to ascertain and verify facts about individuals.
• Access to customer data and business data.
• Privacy and electronic communications regulations.
• Services for electronic signatures, electronic seals, and other trust services.
• Disclosure of information to improve public service delivery.
• Implementation of agreements on sharing information for law enforcement purposes.
• Power to obtain information for social security purposes.
• Retention of information by internet service providers in connection with investigations into child deaths.
• Keeping and maintenance of registers of births and deaths.
• Recording and sharing, and keeping a register, of information relating to apparatus in streets.
• Information standards for health and social care.
• Establishment of the Information Commission.
• Retention and oversight of biometric data.

One of the cornerstone features of the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill is the creation of digital verification services. These services are intended to provide secure and efficient methods for individuals to verify their identity and share key personal information online. By leveraging digital identity products, the Government aims to streamline interactions with online services, making processes like accessing financial services, signing up for utilities, or verifying age for restricted content quicker and more secure.

The Bill also proposes the establishment of a National Underground Asset Register. This initiative is geared towards providing planners and excavators with instant, standardized access to information about underground pipes and cables across the country. By facilitating better access to this data, the Government aims to improve safety and efficiency in construction and maintenance projects, reducing the risk of accidental damage to critical infrastructure.

Smart data schemes represent another innovative aspect of the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill. These schemes will allow customers to securely share their data with authorized third-party service providers upon request. For instance, customers could share their banking data with financial management apps to receive tailored financial advice or share utility usage data to find better service deals. The aim is to empower consumers with greater control over their data while fostering a competitive marketplace.

To support the evolving digital landscape, the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill seeks to modernize the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This modernization effort aims to strengthen the ICO’s regulatory capabilities, ensuring it can effectively oversee and enforce data protection laws in a rapidly changing environment. Enhanced regulatory powers will enable the ICO to address new challenges and opportunities presented by advancements in technology and data usage.

At its core, the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill is designed to leverage data as a catalyst for economic growth. By enabling new, innovative uses of data, the Government seeks to create an environment where businesses can thrive, new services can emerge, and consumers can benefit from enhanced products and services. The Bill’s provisions are aimed at fostering a data-driven economy that is resilient, secure, and poised for future growth.

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