UK Enacts Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, Sparking Debate Over Privacy and Digital ID

The United Kingdom has officially implemented the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, ushering in one of the most significant overhauls of digital privacy, identity, and data governance in recent years.

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The new law introduces a national digital ID framework, eases cookie consent requirements, and expands access to public data. It also grants authorities broader powers to process personal data for purposes such as fraud prevention and public health—replacing key elements of the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

As the law takes effect, debate is intensifying among citizens, businesses, and digital rights advocates over its long-term implications. Critics have raised alarms over potential government overreach, citing relaxed consent standards and increased surveillance potential.

Tech companies are now scrambling to update systems and ensure compliance, while privacy watchdogs closely monitor how the restructured Information Commission will enforce the Act. 

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