On 24 April 2024, the controversial Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill completed the final day of its Committee Stage in the House of Lords.
On the first day of debates, Lord Clement-Jones, the Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson on digital issues, highlighted RSI’s contributions, acknowledging us as one of the organisations 'that see flaws in the bill.'
He stated, “We on these Benches agree with them and believe that it greatly weakens the existing data protection framework. Our preference, as we expressed at Second Reading, is that the bill is either completely revised on a massive scale or withdrawn in the course of its passage through the Lords.”(at col. 58GC)
RSI has repeatedly argued that the Bill (particularly clauses 28-30) would violate the UK’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by granting the Home Secretary and police excessive and unaccountable powers to view and use people’s personal data. For more information, see our briefing here.
During the fourth day of the debates, several peers echoed RSI's concerns about the harmful implications of clauses 28-30. With support from Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour) and Lord Anderson of Ipswich (crossbench, and a former independent reviewer of UK terrorism laws), Lord Clement-Jones urged the government to redraft clauses 28-30. He emphasised that though the government had explained ‘why these new powers would be “helpful” or would ensure “greater efficiency,” such justifications do not meet the high standard that the ECHR requires when the government wants to interfere with our privacy,’ adding:
"Despite multiple requests from MPs, and from RSI in particular, the Government have also failed to explain why they believe that these clauses are necessary to safeguard national security." (col. 279GC)
RSI continues to advocate for the removal of Clauses 28 to 30 from the bill.
