uksi/2026/126 — The Digital Economy Act 2017 (Commencement No. 2) (Northern Ireland) and Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026

2026 No. 126 (C. 12) DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION The Digital Economy Act 2017 (Commencement No. 2) (Northern Ireland) and Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026 Made 11th February 2026 The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 118 (4) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 and section 142 (1) of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 . Citation and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Digital Economy Act 2017 (Commencement No. 2) (Northern Ireland) and Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026. 2 In these Regulations— “ the 2017 Act ” means the Digital Economy Act 2017 ; “ the 2025 Act ” means the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 . Provisions of the 2017 Act coming into force on 12th February 2026 2 The following provisions of the 2017 Act come into force on 12th February 2026, in relation to Northern Ireland only— a section 35 (disclosure of information to improve public service delivery) ; b section 40 (further provisions about disclosures under any of sections 35 to 39) ; c section 41 (confidentiality of personal information) ; d section 42 (information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs); e section 43 (code of practice) ; f section 44 (regulations under Chapter 1 of Part 5) ; g section 45 (interpretation of Chapter 1 of Part 5 etc) ; h section 48 (disclosure of information to reduce debt owed to the public sector) ; i section 49 (further provisions about power in section 48) ; j section 50 (confidentiality of personal information) ; k section 51 (information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs); l section 52 (code of practice) ; m section 54 (regulations under Chapter 3 of Part 5); n section 55 (interpretation of Chapter 3 of Part 5); o section 56 (disclosure of information to combat fraud against the public sector) ; p section 57 (further provisions about power in section 56) ; q section 58 (confidentiality of personal information) ; r section 59 (information disclosed by the Revenue and Customs); s section 60 (code of practice) ; t section 62 (regulations under Chapter 4 of Part 5); u section 63 (interpretation of Chapter 4 of Part 5); v Schedule 4 (public service delivery: specified persons for the purposes of section 35) ; w Schedule 7 (specified persons for the purposes of the debt provisions) ; x Schedule 8 (specified persons for the purposes of the fraud provisions) . Provision of the 2025 Act coming into force on 12th February 2026 3 Section 123 of the 2025 Act (disclosure of information to improve public service delivery to undertakings) comes into force, so far as not already in force , on 12th February 2026. Ian Murray Minister of State Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 11th February 2026 Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations bring into force specified provisions in the Digital Economy Act 2017 (“ the 2017 Act ”) and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (“ the 2025 Act ”). Regulation 2 brings into force, in relation to Northern Ireland only, specified provisions in Part 5 (Digital Government) of the 2017 Act that relate to information-sharing powers for public authorities and other persons. Regulation 3 brings into force section 123 of the 2025 Act, which amends the power in section 35 of the 2017 Act (disclosure of information to improve public service delivery) so that it may additionally be exercised to support businesses and bodies established for charitable purposes. NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT Regulations (This note is not part of the Regulations) The following provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2017 have been brought into force, to the extent indicated below, by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations. Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No. Section 4 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 4 (further purposes) 22nd November 2017 2017/1136 Section 4 (remaining purposes) 28th December 2017 2017/1286 Section 5 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 6 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 8 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 14 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 15 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 16 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 17 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 21(5) (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 22 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 25 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 26(2) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 27 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 30(1) and (2) (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 31 (partially) 30th June 2018 2018/690 Section 31 (remaining purposes) 30th June 2021 2021/680 Section 32 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 33 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 34 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 35 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 35 (further purposes) 9th March 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 35 (further purposes) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 35 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 36 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 36 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 37 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 38 (partially) 9th March 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 38 (further purposes) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 38 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 39 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 39 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 40 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 40 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 41 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 41 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 42 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 42 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 43 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 43 (further purposes) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 44 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 44 (further purposes) 9th March 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 44 (further purposes) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 44 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 45 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 45 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 46 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 46 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 47 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 47 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 48 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 48 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 49 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 50 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 51 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 52 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 53 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 54 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 54 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 55 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 56 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 56 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 57 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 58 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 59 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 60 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 61 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 62 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 62 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 63 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 64 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 64 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 65 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 65 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 66 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 66 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 67 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 67 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 68 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 68 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 69 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 69 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 70 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 70 (further purposes) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 70 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 71 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 71 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 72 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 72 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 73 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 73 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 74 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 75 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Section 76 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 77 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 78 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 79 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 79 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 80 (partially) 1st October 2017 2017/765 Section 80 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 81 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 81 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Section 87 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 92 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 93 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 95 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 98 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 99 29th October 2021 2021/1170 Section 100 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 101 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 102 1st October 2018 2017/765 Section 104 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 105 (partially) 6th April 2018 2018/382 Section 106 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 108 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 109 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 110 31st July 2017 2017/765 Section 111(8) and (9) 25th May 2018 2018/624 Section 114 1st August 2020 2020/70 Schedule 1 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Schedule 1 (further purposes) 22nd November 2017 2017/1136 Schedule 1 (remaining purposes) 28th December 2017 2017/1286 Schedule 2 28th December 2017 2017/1286 Schedule 3 (partially) 31st July 2017 2017/765 Schedule 3 (remaining purposes) 28th December 2017 2017/1286 Schedule 4 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Schedule 4 (further purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Schedule 5 1st May 2018 2018/382 Schedule 6 (partially) 1st April 2018 2018/342 (W. 62) Schedule 6 (remaining purposes) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Schedule 7 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 Schedule 8 (partially) 1st May 2018 2018/382 The following provisions of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 have been brought into force, so far as they were not already in force (see section 142(2)(h) of that Act), to the extent indicated below, by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations. On the date these Regulations are made, the commencement date of the provisions marked * have not been reached. Provision Date of Commencement S.I. No. Part 1 20th August 2025 2025/904 Part 2 (partially) 1st December 2025 2025/1213 Section 67 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 68 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 70 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 71 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 72 (partially) 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 72 (remaining purposes) 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 73 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 74 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 75 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 76 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 77 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 79 5th September 2025 2025/996 Section 80 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 81 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 83 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 84 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 85 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 86 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 87 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 88 5th September 2025 2025/996 Section 89 17th November 2025 2025/996 Section 90 17th November 2025 2025/996 Section 91 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 92 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 93 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 94 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 95 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 98 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 99 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 100 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 101 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 102 20th August 2025 2025/904 *Section 103 19th June 2026 2026/82 Section 104 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 105 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 106 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 107 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 108 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 109 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 110 (partially) 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 110 (remaining purposes) 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 111 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 112 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 113 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 114 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 115 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 116 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 117 (partially) 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 120 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 121 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 124 30th September 2025 2025/982 Section 125 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 129 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 130 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 132 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 133 (partially) 5th February 2026 2026/82 Section 134 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 135 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 136 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 137 20th August 2025 2025/904 Section 138 6th February 2026 2026/31 Schedule 4 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 5 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 6 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 7 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 8 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 9 5th February 2026 2026/82 *Schedule 10 19th June 2026 2026/82 Schedule 11 (partially) 20th August 2025 2025/904 Schedule 11 (further purposes) 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 12 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 13 5th February 2026 2026/82 Schedule 14 20th August 2025 2025/904 Schedule 15 5th February 2026 2026/82