The Information Commissioner's Office has reported a significant increase in both data protection complaints and personal data breach reports in its Annual Report for 2025/26. The regulator received 76,743 data protection complaints (up from 42,315 the previous year), while the number of personal data breach reports increased from 12,412 to 17,431.

The ICO noted that this reflects a "significant and sustained increase in demand" for its services.

The figures indicate that individuals are becoming more aware of their information rights and are increasingly prepared to raise concerns where they believe their personal data has not been handled appropriately. As public awareness of data protection rights and responsibilities continues to grow, organisations are likely to face greater scrutiny from customers, employees and other stakeholders.

Data protection continues to be a key focus for regulators and the public. Clear privacy information, effective processes for dealing with concerns, and robust security measures are more important than ever. Not only do these measures help organisations meet their legal obligations, but they also play a vital role in building and maintaining trust with their clients and colleagues.

Source: Information Commissioner's Office, Annual Report and Financial Statements 2025/26. [ico.org.uk], [ico.org.uk]

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