Who does UK Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024 apply to?

UK intelligence services, public authorities using investigatory powers, and telecommunications operators including overseas tech companies subject to notices.

What are the penalties under UK Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024?

Enforcement of notices through civil proceedings brought by the Secretary of State.

UK Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024

Enacted United Kingdom · Enacted Apr 25, 2024 · no upcoming deadlines

Official text

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Deadlines

MilestoneApr 25, 2024 · 2.5 years ago · Source

Royal AssentInvestigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024 receives Royal Assent.

Summaries for reference, not legal advice. Check the official text.

What it does

Amends the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. It creates a lighter regime for intelligence agencies to hold bulk personal datasets with low or no expectation of privacy, widens communications data rules, and bars telecoms operators from making relevant changes to their services that would weaken lawful access capabilities while a retention notice is under review.

Who it applies to: UK intelligence services, public authorities using investigatory powers, and telecommunications operators including overseas tech companies subject to notices.
Penalties: Enforcement of notices through civil proceedings brought by the Secretary of State.
Enforced by: Home Office; Investigatory Powers Commissioner oversees use.
Official name: Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024
Citation: 2024 c. 9
Topics: Privacy, Data access and sharing, Cybersecurity

Verified 2026-09-25

Research notes

Provisions commence in stages by regulations; commencement dates were not individually verified, so effective_date is left empty.

In forceUnited Kingdom

Data (Use and Access) ActAmends the UK GDPR, DPA 2018 and PECR (recognised legitimate interests, relaxed automated decision-making rules, reasonable-and-proportionate DSAR searches, new transfer test, cookie exemptions, PECR fines raised to UK GDPR levels), creates Smart Data schemes and digital verification services, and replaces the ICO with an Information Commission. Commenced in stages from August 2025 to 2026.In effect since Aug 20, 2025

In forceSwitzerland

Swiss revised FADP (nFADP)Switzerland's modernised data protection law, closely aligned to GDPR: privacy by design/default, records of processing, DPIAs, breach notification to the FDPIC as soon as possible, and cross-border transfer rules. Protects only natural persons' data.In effect since Sep 1, 2023

AmendedTurkey

Turkey KVKKTurkey's general data protection law. The 2024 amendments reworked sensitive-data processing and replaced the consent-first cross-border transfer rule with a GDPR-style tiered regime (adequacy, appropriate safeguards such as standard contracts that must be notified to the Authority within 5 business days, then limited derogations).In effect since Apr 7, 2016

ProposedUnited Kingdom

UK Cyber Security and Resilience BillUpdates the NIS Regulations 2018: brings managed service providers and data centres into scope, lets regulators designate critical suppliers, tightens incident reporting (initial notice within 24 hours, full report within 72 hours) and strengthens regulator powers. Substantive duties will follow via secondary legislation after Royal Assent.No date set

AmendedUnited Kingdom

UK Data Protection Act 2018Core UK data protection statute that sits alongside the UK GDPR. It sets exemptions and conditions for special category and criminal offence data, the law enforcement and intelligence services regimes, and the regulator's powers and fines. It has been substantially amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.In effect since May 25, 2018

AmendedUnited Kingdom

UK GDPRThe UK's core data protection regime: lawful bases, transparency, data subject rights, security, breach notification within 72 hours, and international transfer rules. Retained EU GDPR became the UK GDPR from 1 January 2021 and was materially amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 from 5 February 2026.In effect since May 25, 2018

In forceUnited Kingdom

UK Online Safety ActImposes duties of care on user-to-user services and search engines to assess and mitigate illegal content risks and, where children can access the service, to protect children (including highly effective age assurance for pornography and other primary priority content). Categorised services face additional transparency, user empowerment and fraudulent advertising duties.In effect since Mar 17, 2025

In forceUnited Kingdom

UK PSTI Act (product security)Sets baseline security requirements for consumer connectable products sold in the UK. Manufacturers must ban universal default passwords, publish a way to report vulnerabilities, and state the minimum security update support period. Importers and distributors share compliance duties.In effect since Apr 29, 2024

Questions about UK Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024

What are the UK Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024 compliance deadlines?: Apr 25, 2024: Royal Assent.
Who does UK Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024 apply to?: UK intelligence services, public authorities using investigatory powers, and telecommunications operators including overseas tech companies subject to notices.
What are the penalties under UK Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Act 2024?: Enforcement of notices through civil proceedings brought by the Secretary of State.

Deadlines

What it does

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