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Section 124: Data protection and journalism code

Data Protection Act 2018 · 2018 c. 12View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 5: The Information Commissioner

The Commissioner must prepare a code of practice which contains—

practical guidance in relation to the processing of personal data for the purposes of journalism in accordance with the requirements of the data protection legislation, and
such other guidance as the Commissioner considers appropriate to promote good practice in the processing of personal data for the purposes of journalism.

Where a code under this section is in force, the Commissioner may prepare amendments of the code or a replacement code.

Before preparing a code or amendments under this section, the Commissioner must consult such of the following as the Commissioner considers appropriate—

trade associations;
data subjects;
persons who appear to the Commissioner to represent the interests of data subjects.

A code under this section may include transitional provision or savings.

In this section—

  • "good practice in the processing of personal data for the purposes of journalism" means such practice in the processing of personal data for those purposes as appears to the Commissioner to be desirable having regard to—

    (a)the interests of data subjects and others ..., and

    (b)the special importance of the public interest in the freedom of expression and information;

  • "trade association" includes a body representing controllers or processors.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.