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Debate between Baroness Lloyd of Effra and Lord Cryer

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

The noble Baroness makes a point about the effectiveness of the regime as it stands and future developments. As I mentioned, we are looking carefully at how the regime is working currently, at the timeliness of the preservation of data, and at the communication of those steps. As she also knows, further measures will come into force over the coming year or so. Ofcom and others are consulting on measures that will take those further requirements forward for categorised services.

[Lord Cryer (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government are being asked to introduce a legal compulsion to force big tech companies to preserve the relevant data. Why do we not just do it?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

We have put in place powers under the Data (Use and Access) Act, which established the data preservation process, to require Ofcom, when notified by a coroner, to issue a data preservation notice to the specified online service companies. Since coming into force on 30 September, Ofcom has issued at least 12 data preservation notices. As I mentioned, we are looking carefully at how this is working, at the speed at which this is taken forward and at what more needs to be done.