Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2026

Data And Cyber Update - August 2026

Stephenson Harwood
Stephenson Harwood
Contributor
Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm, and we're committed to creating 'positive...

View firm profile
Explore more from Stephenson Harwood

Explore comprehensive legal insights and expert commentary across diverse practice areas and industries. Access thought leadership through written articles and podcast discussions that address current legal developments and emerging trends.

United KingdomPrivacy
Katie Hewson
Katie Hewson
Joanne Elieli
Joanne Elieli
Sarah O'Brien
Sarah O'Brien
Alison Llewellyn
Alison Llewellyn

Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephenson Harwood Data and Cyber Update, covering the key developments in data protection and cyber security law in August 2026.

In data regulation news, the ICO has opened a consultation on anonymisation and pseudonymisation for research, Ofcom has published its first major age-assurance report, the ICO has set out its expectations for police use of facial recognition, France's Constitutional Council has struck down the country's proposed under-15 social media ban, and the Austrian Supreme Court has required an accommodation platform to disclose host identities to customers.

In cybersecurity news, an extortion group has claimed responsibility for theft of data from the Department for Education and the Police National Legal Database, and the ICO has reprimanded the ACRO Criminal Records Office over cyber security deficiencies.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

ICO Cookie Crackdown 2.0: The ICO’s New Storage And Access Technologies Guidance

The UK Information Commissioner's Office has finalized its guidance on storage and access technologies, expanding compliance requirements beyond traditional cookies to include tracking pixels, device fingerprinting, and web storage. Organizations must now navigate stricter consent standards and three new narrow exceptions introduced by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, while facing significantly increased enforcement penalties of up to £17.5 million or 4% of annual worldwide turnover.
United KingdomPrivacy
ZwillGen
ZwillGen
Article

European Commission Press Release: EU AI Act Transparency Enforcement Starts This Sunday! Do You Know Who Your Chatbots Are? We Break Down The Commission’s Guidelines On Transparency Below

The European Commission has announced that EU AI Act transparency rules take effect August 2, 2026, requiring chatbots to identify themselves, deepfakes to be labeled, and AI-generated content to be marked. Organizations must assess whether their AI systems trigger disclosure, labeling, or content-marking requirements, with limited exceptions and penalties reaching €15 million or 3% of global turnover for noncompliance.
GlobalPrivacy
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Article

ICO Launches Consultation On Draft Guidance Regarding Anonymisation And Pseudonymisation For Research Purposes

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office has opened a public consultation on draft guidance addressing anonymisation and pseudonymisation techniques for processing personal data in research, archiving, and statistical contexts. The guidance explores critical distinctions between anonymous and pseudonymous data, outlines required safeguards under UK GDPR, and examines emerging technologies including synthetic data and privacy-enhancing tools.
United KingdomPrivacy
A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman
Article

ICO Consults On Draft Guidance On Anonymisation And Pseudonymisation For Research

The Information Commissioner's Office has launched a consultation on draft guidance addressing anonymisation and pseudonymisation for research, archiving and statistical purposes. This guidance provides critical insight into how organisations should apply data minimisation principles in modern research practices, including AI development, trusted research environments, and synthetic data generation.
United KingdomPrivacy
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP
Article

UK Government Announces Social Media Ban For Under-16s: Enforcement And Next Steps

The UK Government has announced plans to ban social media platforms from offering services to children under 16, marking a significant escalation in the country's approach to children's online safety. The proposal extends beyond a blanket ban to target harmful functionality including livestreaming and certain messaging features, with platforms expected to implement robust age assurance measures and demonstrate effective compliance with child safety requirements. Organisations operating in-scope services fac
United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Stephenson Harwood
Stephenson Harwood