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ARTICLE · 27 FEBRUARY 2026

The Data Use and Access Act 2025: A new 'right to complain'

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UK data protection law is set to introduce a new statutory right for individuals to complain directly to organisations about how their personal data is handled.

United KingdomPrivacy
Andrew Fremlin-Key
Andrew Fremlin-Key
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UK data protection law is set to introduce a new statutory right for individuals to complain directly to organisations about how their personal data is handled. This change, introduced under the Data Use and Access Act 2025, will apply to all organisations acting as data controllers under the UK GDPR, with no exemptions.

For organisations, this is more than a procedural adjustment. It represents a shift in how data protection concerns are expected to be raised, handled and resolved, and is likely to result in a significant increase in the volume of complaints received directly by organisations.

While the changes will take effect from 19 June 2026, the Information Commissioner's Office ('ICO') has already published new guidance 'How to deal with data protection complaints' (on 12 February 2026) and confirmed that 'even before these requirements are in force, we think that what's set out in this guidance represents good practice'.

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