Technology Legislation
Regulations governing digital technology, cybersecurity, data protection, and technological innovation.
The Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2026
The Secretary of State imposed a temporary prohibition on pre-emptive actions by DMGT and associated entities concerning the acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings to preserve the status quo pending a public interest review.
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State under the Enterprise Act 2002, prevents the parties involved in the proposed acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited by Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) from taking 'pre-emptive action' while a public interest intervention notice remains in force; the Order mandates that the Telegraph Media Group Holdings business must be carried on separately, maintaining its operational status, editorial independence, key staff, and market position until the review period concludes.
The Wireless Telegraphy (Direct to Device Satellite Communications) (Exemption) Regulations 2026
OFCOM exempted wireless telegraphy apparatus used for direct-to-device satellite communications from licensing under specific technical and power limitations in February 2026.
OFCOM created these Regulations, which came into force on February 25, 2026, to exempt the establishment, installation, and use of wireless telegraphy apparatus for direct-to-device satellite services from standard licensing requirements under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, provided strict technical conditions regarding operating frequencies, mandated ETSI standards, maximum power levels, and non-airborne operation are met, while specifically excluding apparatus that qualifies as a commercial multi-user gateway device.
The Oil and Gas Authority (Carbon Storage and Offshore Petroleum) (Specified Periods for Disclosure of Protected Material) Regulations 2025
The regulations specified the mandatory disclosure periods for protected carbon storage and offshore petroleum information and samples obtained by the OGA, and amended a related 2018 disclosure regulation.
The Oil and Gas Authority (Carbon Storage and Offshore Petroleum) (Specified Periods for Disclosure of Protected Material) Regulations 2025 specify the regulatory windows following data collection during which the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) or subsequent holders can disclose protected material, including information and samples, related to carbon capture and storage (CCS) and offshore petroleum activities.
These regulations establish different disclosure timelines based on the sensitivity and nature of the material—some information can be published immediately, while detailed technical data, well information, injection/production records, and physical samples are subject to defined confidentiality periods, often contingent on reporting deadlines, system closures, or licence determination events.
Furthermore, the instrument amends a 2018 regulation concerning offshore petroleum data to align its disclosure deadline with the "reporting deadline" specified by the OGA.
The Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Regulations added offences related to encouraging serious self-harm and specific digital sexual offences to Schedule 7 of the Online Safety Act 2023 and revoked the 2024 amending regulations.
These Regulations amend Schedule 7 of the Online Safety Act 2023 by designating specific criminal acts as 'priority offences,' which imposes specific duties on online service providers to tackle content related to these crimes.
Specifically, the Regulations introduce an offence concerning encouraging or assisting serious self-harm and update provisions regarding offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 related to sharing intimate images, having been approved by Parliament and extending across the UK. The legal instrument also revokes the previous related amendment regulations from 2024.
The Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025
The Secretary of State introduced regulations creating an open data scheme for motor fuel prices, establishing an aggregator, imposing data submission duties on fuel traders, granting enforcement powers to the CMA, and setting financial penalties and procedural appeals.
These Regulations, made under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, establish a mandatory open data scheme requiring motor fuel traders in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to register their petrol filling stations and report the selling price of motor fuels to an appointed third-party 'aggregator'.
Motor fuel traders must provide this price information, including any subsequent changes within 30 minutes of occurrence, for public dissemination via an Application Programming Interface (API) and other means.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for enforcement, with powers to issue compliance notices, conduct investigations, impose financial penalties up to 1% of worldwide turnover, and pursue criminal sanctions for false information or obstruction.
The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025
The Regulations formally brought into force on January 1st, 2026, key enforcement provisions (tampering and parts suitability) and preliminary regulatory powers (term restriction, information management) from the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, specify the first set of provisions from that Act that will come into force on 1st January 2026.
Specifically, they activate sections strengthening laws against tampering with vehicle equipment (including software) and fitting unsuitable parts, and they also activate sections that grant the Secretary of State power to regulate the restriction of certain terms, the collection and protection of information, and other administrative procedures, though these latter powers are currently only active for the purpose of making subsequent regulations.
The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Treasury substituted the Schedule of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025 with a revised list of designated bodies affecting supply estimates for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.
This Order, made by HM Treasury under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000, revises the list of designated central government bodies for the purpose of calculating supply estimates and resource accounts for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.
Specifically, it substitutes the entire Schedule of the principal Order (The Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Estimates and Accounts) Order 2025) with an updated list organized by government department, adding, renaming, or removing various public sector bodies.
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential and Other Amendments) Regulations 2025
The Regulations amended numerous secondary legal instruments to align with the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, repealed a section of the Data Protection Act 2018 concerning recordable offences, and updated electoral and company disclosure rules concerning data processing safeguards.
These Regulations finalize the transition following the enactment of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 by making necessary consequential amendments across various pieces of UK legislation.
Key actions include repealing a section of the Data Protection Act 2018 concerning recordable offences while simultaneously updating regulations to ensure the new offence of making false statements in response to an interview notice becomes recordable, and revising numerous electoral and company disclosure rules to align references from the UK GDPR concerning data processing for research and archiving purposes (replacing references to Article 89 with Article 84A).