Data Bytes 67: Your EMEA Data Privacy Update for July 2026

According to Ashurst Perkins Coie, the new UAE Authority brings together three bodies, including the UAE Data Office (nominally responsible for enforcing the on-shore data protection law ("PDPL"))[1].The firm writes that the UAE Data Office established under the PDPL never became fully operational[1]. It calls the change "a big step forward for the UAE privacy landscape, but what it means in practice remains to be seen."[1]Ashurst Perkins Coie reports that on 15 June 2026, the UK government announced that social media platforms will be banned from offering services to under-16s[1]. According to the firm, the ban covers platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X[1], but messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal[1] are not included.The firm says the government stated on 15 July that protections for 16 and 17 year-olds would include overnight curfews from midnight to 6am on social media apps[1]. It adds that under-18s are also expected to be barred from using AI "romantic companion" services.[1]According to the update, the government intends to bring regulations to Parliament before the end of 2026, with protections expected to come into force in spring 2027.[1]In its next edition, Data Bytes 68, Ashurst Perkins Coie reports that after the European Data Protection Board's consultation on a new data breach notification template closed, Insurance Europe[2] criticised the template as excessively lengthy and containing questions that go beyond GDPR notification requirements.[2]