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Written Question
Intimate Image Abuse
Monday 19th January 2026

Asked by: Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Levitt on 24 November 2025 (HL11755), what are the reasons for the delay in bringing the provisions of section 138 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 into effect; and what is the timeframe for bringing those provisions into effect.

Answered by Baroness Levitt - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

As with many criminal law provisions, section 138 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 is brought into force by regulations made by the Secretary of State, to ensure sufficient time to take into account and manage impacts on the criminal justice system and operational preparedness.

We have now laid the regulations to bring section 138 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 into force; they were signed by Minister Davies-Jones last week. The offences will come into force on 6 February (21 days after being signed) as is standard practice for new criminal offences.

Division Vote (Lords)
19 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 154 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 232 Noes - 160
Division Vote (Lords)
19 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 157 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 235 Noes - 164
Division Vote (Lords)
19 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 148 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 216 Noes - 161
Division Vote (Lords)
14 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 185 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 278 Noes - 176
Division Vote (Lords)
14 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 178 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 211
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 14 Jan 2026
Social Media: Non-consensual Sexual Deepfakes

"My Lords, I declare an interest as I am receiving pro bono legal advice on NCII from Mishcon de Reya. I am delighted that the Government are finally enforcing the law that noble Lords in this House pushed so strongly for in the passage of the data Bill, criminalising the …..."
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge - View Speech

View all Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Social Media: Non-consensual Sexual Deepfakes
Division Vote (Lords)
12 Jan 2026 - Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 171 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 201 Noes - 169
Division Vote (Lords)
6 Jan 2026 - Sentencing Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 163 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 180 Noes - 219
Division Vote (Lords)
6 Jan 2026 - Sentencing Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 122 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 134 Noes - 185