ICO becomes Information Commission today: what changes for consumers?

The Information Commissioner’s Office becomes the Information Commission today, 30 September 2026, under changes introduced by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. The change is to how the UK’s information rights regulator is governed. Its existing regulatory functions and responsibilities continue.

The familiar initials remain. The regulator says it will continue to be known as the ICO as the Information Commission’s Office, even though the statutory body is now the Information Commission.

A new Information Commission Board takes up its role, including seven non-executive members appointed in July. The move replaces the previous model centred on an individual Information Commissioner with a commission structure intended to provide collective strategic leadership and oversight.

For someone seeking a copy of their personal data, raising a data protection concern or looking for help with freedom of information, the practical message is continuity. The ICO says it is maintaining its regulatory functions and service during the transition. There is no indication that existing complaints or subject access requests need to be resubmitted because of this governance change.

ConsumerWise explained the planned governance change in our earlier report. Today is the date that transition takes effect. The distinction remains useful: Information Commission is the new body, while ICO remains the name people will see and use.

You can continue to find guidance and complaint routes on the ICO website. The regulator’s work on privacy, data protection and access to information remains within its remit.