United Kingdom: Announced inquiry on UK-EU Data Adequacy

On 15 March 2024, the House of Lords European Affairs Committee initiated an inquiry into the UK's EU data adequacy arrangement following Brexit. The Committee has called for written evidence submissions by 3 May 2024. The inquiry seeks to assess the effectiveness of current arrangements for the free flow of personal data between the UK and the EU, established post-Brexit under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive. It will examine the benefits, shortcomings, and potential challenges to the existing UK-EU data adequacy regime, with a focus on the implications of any divergence in data protection standards. The inquiry will also explore the consequences of a disrupted adequacy scenario and draw lessons from other countries' experiences with the adequacy process. The Committee has called for written evidence submissions by 3 May 2024, with findings expected to be published in July 2024.