The UK government has hinted that there may be more changes to the UK data protection laws when the Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, appoints a new Information Commissioner after Elizabeth Denham leaves her post later this year.

Dowden said that he would use a new information commissioner's appointment to focus on privacy and the use of data for 'economic and social goals'. 

He said that under the regime, 'too many businesses and organisations are reluctant to use data – either because they don't understand the rules or are afraid of inadvertently breaking them'.

While the UK has secured a draft 'adequacy' agreement with Brussels on data standards, it does not have to copy and paste the EU's rulebook, he said.

He said that the UK has the freedom to strike its partnerships, and he would announce priority countries for data adequacy agreements shortly.

The current information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, is due to leave her post in October. 

We also heard from German MEP Axel Voss last week, when he called for the regulation to be updated to consider developments such as blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and the widespread move to homeworking. 

Axel Voss played a part in creating the original GDPR.

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