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DUA Act 2025

Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

Omnibus data legislation covering customer data access, digital verification services, the Information Commission, and AI-related provisions including copyright/training transparency requirements and new criminal offenses for creating AI-generated intimate images (deepfakes).

Jurisdiction

United Kingdom

Enacted

Jun 19, 2025

Effective

Jun 19, 2025

Enforcement

Crown Prosecution Service (criminal); Information Commission (data provisions)

Royal Assent 19 June 2025

legislation.gov.uk

Why It Matters

Creates criminal liability for AI-generated intimate imagery. The mandated reports on AI training and copyright may lead to future disclosure requirements for AI developers. Primarily relevant for platforms dealing with synthetic media.

Recent Developments

Enacted June 2025. AI/copyright provisions require reports within 9 months but defer substantive regulation. Deepfake intimate image provisions in force immediately.

At a Glance

Applies to

Foundation ModelImage GeneratorDigital Replica

Who Must Comply

  • Anyone creating AI-generated intimate imagery (criminal provisions)
  • AI developers using copyrighted training data (future regulation subject to reports)
  • Data holders and customer data processors

Safety Provisions

  • Creates criminal offense for creating 'purported intimate images' (AI deepfakes) of adults without consent (s.66E SOA 2003)
  • Creates criminal offense for requesting creation of such images (s.66F SOA 2003)
  • Mandates economic impact assessment on AI training using copyrighted works
  • Mandates report on copyright works in AI development including transparency and disclosure requirements

Exemptions

Reasonable Excuse Defense

Defense available for creating purported intimate images if person had reasonable excuse

  • • Must prove reasonable excuse for creation

Compliance & Enforcement

Key Dates

Mar 19, 2026

Secretary of State must publish economic impact assessment on AI training and copyright (s.135)

Secretary of State must publish report on use of copyright works in AI development (s.136)

Penalties

criminal (up to 1yr)

Criminal liability

View on map

United Kingdom

Focus Areas

Child safety

Cite This

APA

United Kingdom. (2025). Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

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Last updated January 23, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.