UK
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) opened consultation on 27 February 2026 on draft updated guidance for the research, archiving and statistics (RAS) provisions of UK data protection law. Responses close on 27 April 2026. The commercial novelty for controllers running long-lived datasets, AI training sets or public-interest archives is the new disproportionate effort exemption in…
From 15 July 2026, BNPL firms must hold FCA authorisation or rely on the Temporary Permissions Regime. What PS26/1 and SI 2025/859 require now.
Ofcom confirmed its three-stage copper retirement framework in the TAR 2026-31. The second threshold consultation closes 12 May 2026. What operators and wholesale access purchasers need to know about the stop sell, charge control removal and full copper withdrawal timeline.
The PSR FCA consolidation transfers all PSR functions to the FCA. What changes for payment service providers, scheme participants, and payment system operators.
The DUAA 2025 introduces recognised legitimate interests as a new UK GDPR lawful basis. Analysis of the five Annex 1 purposes, the distinction from standard legitimate interests, UK/EU divergence, and commercial implications for data-driven businesses.
Ofcom opened a formal investigation into X over Grok AI deepfake imagery. The first major Online Safety Act enforcement action against a global platform tests the full range of OSA powers, from fines to business disruption measures.
Agentic AI payments raise an unresolved question in UK payments law: can an AI agent give valid consent under PSRs 2017 Reg 67? Analysis of the regulatory gap and what it means for fintechs and payment institutions.
FCA safeguarding reform is now weeks away from taking effect. The FCA published its Payments Regulatory Priorities report on 25 March 2026, confirming that keeping customers’ money safe remains its primary concern for the payments sector. The message to payment institutions and electronic money institutions is direct: the Safeguarding Supplementary Regime takes effect on 7…
On 26 February 2026, the Payments Vision Delivery Committee published the Payments Forward Plan, the first coordinated regulatory roadmap for UK payments since the National Payments Vision in November 2024. The Plan sets out what the Bank of England, the FCA, the PSR and HM Treasury intend to do across retail payments, wholesale payments and…
In short: The UK government confirmed on 18 March 2026 that it will not introduce a broad copyright exception for AI training. Instead, the existing copyright framework applies: AI developers must obtain licences to use copyrighted works for training, unless a specific existing exception (such as non-commercial research under section 29A CDPA 1988) applies. The…
Ofcom’s Plan of Work 2026/27 shapes telecoms investment, altnet consolidation and compliance. Analysis of what it means for operators and dealmakers.
The Nexfibre-Netomnia deal, the government Statement of Strategic Priorities and Ofcom Telecoms Access Review 2026-31 together set the framework for UK fibre infrastructure transactions. What advisors and investors need to know about deal structuring in a consolidating market.