Technology Legislation
Regulations governing digital technology, cybersecurity, data protection, and technological innovation.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Investigatory Powers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the powers granted by the Employment Rights Act 2025, amend the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 to ensure that the Fair Work Agency, which is taking over the functions of the abolished Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), retains the necessary authority to access communications data for enforcement purposes.
The amendment specifically updates the list of relevant public authorities in Schedule 4 of the 2016 Act, substituting the GLAA's designation with that of the Fair Work Agency within the Department for Business and Trade.
The Vaping Duty Stamps (Requirements, Reviews and Appeals) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made by HM Revenue and Customs under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 and the Finance Act 2026, mandate specific requirements for placing duty stamps on vaping products, establishing that products produced or imported before October 1, 2026, must be stamped by April 1, 2027, while those produced afterward must be stamped at or before the excise duty point.
The rules detail several exemptions, including products for personal import or export, and they also amend the Finance Act 1994 to ensure that review and appeal processes apply to decisions concerning United Kingdom representatives related to the new vaping duty structure.
The Income Tax (Digital Obligations) Regulations 2026
These 2026 Regulations impose mandatory digital obligations on relevant persons concerning income tax, requiring the use of functional compatible software for submitting quarterly updates, filing tax returns, and maintaining digital records, effective from 1st April 2026.
The legislation details the criteria for defining digital start and termination dates, establishes specific quarterly update periods and deadlines, and outlines what constitutes 'functional compatible software' and 'digital records.' Critically, the framework includes numerous detailed exemptions based on income thresholds, overseas activities, personal circumstances (such as incapacity or ministry), specific income types, and temporary exemptions for the initial 2026-27 tax year, allowing certain taxpayers to defer compliance.
The Broadcasting Act 1990 (Independent Radio Services Exception) Order 2026
This 2026 Statutory Instrument, made under the Broadcasting Act 1990, amends the rules governing independent radio broadcasting by explicitly exempting certain radio services from the general requirement to hold a license.
Specifically, the Order exempts 'restricted services' if they broadcast on frequencies outside the standard AM or FM bands, or if they broadcast on FM frequencies using apparatus emitting extremely low power, not exceeding 50 nanowatts.
Furthermore, the instrument revokes the predecessor exception orders from 1990 and 2007, consolidating the current exceptions framework.
The Trafficking People for Exploitation (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These 2026 Regulations, made under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, amend two pieces of 2013 legislation concerning the trafficking of people for exploitation by removing specific requirements for statutory reviews of those regulations, thereby streamlining the legal framework without replacement.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) (Fees) Regulations 2026
These Regulations officially set the specific monetary amounts for fees payable by providers of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services, as mandated by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
The instrument details the fixed fees for applying for, varying, and periodically maintaining accreditation, specifying the amounts for initial applications (£6,151), application variation (£950), and recurring six-monthly fees (£1,318), all of which are payable to the designated ADR authority starting from April 6th, 2026.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026
These Regulations officially bring into force Chapter 4 (Alternative Dispute Resolution for consumer contract disputes) and related Schedules (25 to 27) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 starting on 6th April 2026, marking the third phase of implementation for the Act, and simultaneously establish specific transitional provisions to manage ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) cases initiated before or shortly after the commencement date, granting existing providers a temporary exemption from new prohibitions on acting as an ADR provider or charging fees until they achieve accreditation or until October 5th, 2026.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026
These Regulations officially bring into force section 49 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 on March 13, 2026, which amends the procedures for installing electric vehicle charge points on public highways by granting Electric Vehicle Charge Point Operators the legal right to use a permit-based system instead of the existing Section 50 licensing structure under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.