Section 187 Representation of data subjects with their authorityI1

(1)

In relation to the processing of personal data to which the F1UK GDPR applies, Article 80(1) of the UK GDPR (representation of data subjects)—

(a)

F2... enables a data subject to authorise a body or other organisation which meets the conditions set out in F3subsections (3) and (4) to exercise the data subject's rights under F4sections 164A and 165 (complaints) and Articles 78 and 79 of the F5UK GDPR (rights F6... to an effective judicial remedy) on the data subject's behalf, and

(b)

F7also authorises such a body or organisation to exercise the data subject's rights under Article 82 of the F8UK GDPR (right to compensation).

(2)

In relation to the processing of personal data to which the F9UK GDPR does not apply, a body or other organisation which meets the conditions in subsections (3) and (4), if authorised to do so by a data subject, may exercise some or all of the following rights of a data subject on the data subject's behalf—

F10(za)

the right under section 164A (complaints to the controller);

(a)

rights under section F11165 (complaints to the F12Commission);

(b)

rights under section 166(2) (orders for the Commission to progress complaints);

(c)

rights under section 167(1) (compliance orders);

(d)

the right to bring judicial review proceedings against the F13Commission.

(3)

The first condition is that the body or organisation, by virtue of its constitution or an enactment—

(a)

is required (after payment of outgoings) to apply the whole of its income and any capital it expends for charitable or public purposes,

(b)

is prohibited from directly or indirectly distributing amongst its members any part of its assets (otherwise than for charitable or public purposes), and

(c)

has objectives which are in the public interest.

(4)

The second condition is that the body or organisation is active in the field of protection of data subjects' rights and freedoms with regard to the protection of their personal data.

(5)

In this Act, references to a “representative body”, in relation to a right of a data subject, are to a body or other organisation authorised to exercise the right on the data subject's behalf under Article 80 of the F14UK GDPR or this section.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 187(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(2) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F2: Words in s. 187(1)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(3)(a) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F3: Words in s. 187(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(3)(b) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F4: Words in s. 187(1)(a) substituted (19.6.2026) by Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (c. 18), s. 142(1), Sch. 10 para. 21(2)(a); S.I. 2026/82, reg. 3(b) (with reg. 7)
F5: Words in s. 187(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(3)(c) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F6: Words in s. 187(1)(a) omitted (19.6.2026) by virtue of Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (c. 18), s. 142(1), Sch. 10 para. 21(2)(b); S.I. 2026/82, reg. 3(b) (with reg. 7)
F7: Words in s. 187(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(4)(a) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F8: Words in s. 187(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(4)(b) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F9: Words in s. 187(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(5)(a) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F10: S. 187(2)(za) inserted (19.6.2026) by Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (c. 18), s. 142(1), Sch. 10 para. 21(3)(a); S.I. 2026/82, reg. 3(b) (with reg. 7)
F11: Word in s. 187(2)(a) substituted (19.6.2026) by Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (c. 18), s. 142(1), Sch. 10 para. 21(3)(b); S.I. 2026/82, reg. 3(b) (with reg. 7)
F12: Word in s. 187(2)(a)(b) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 23(2)(3); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
F13: Word in s. 187(2)(d) substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 23(2)(3); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
F14: Words in s. 187(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/419), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 81(6) (with reg. 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Commencement

I1: S. 187 in force at 25.5.2018 by S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)

Notes on Part 7

Modifications

C1: Pt. 7 applied in part (with modifications) by S.I. 2016/696, Sch. 2 (as substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 406 (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g) (with reg. 4))
C2: Pts. 5-7 applied in part (with modifications) (5.2.2026) by S.I. 2003/2426, reg. 31, Sch. 1 (as substituted by Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (c. 18), ss. 115(5)(8), 142(1), Sch. 13; S.I. 2026/82, reg. 2(y)(z14) (with regs. 8-11) and as amended (30.9.2026) by S.I. 2026/386, reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 6(3), (4)(j); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c))