King's Speech 2026: Science, innovation and technology

Approximate time to read: 17 minutes

The government has proposed several legislative changes to promote the development and adoption of new technologies while also regulating for safe use. These include plans to legislate for the launch of the AI Growth Lab, which would allow AI products and regulatory reforms to be tested under real-world conditions. The government has also consulted on proposed changes to copyright law, with the aim of protecting creators’ rights while supporting AI development.

The government has recently committed to introducing legislation regulating children’s use of technology, stating that it intends to act quickly following the conclusion of its consultation on 26 May 2026. It also committed to introducing legislation to support digital IDs in 2026, with the intention of making them available to those who want them by 2029.

Consultations have also been held on proposed legislative changes to support the expansion and modernisation of telecommunication infrastructure. For example, a new right for leaseholders to request a gigabit-capable connection and a duty for landowners to not unreasonably refuse. The government has not said when any changes may be made.

The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill will be carried over from the 2024–26 session. This bill would impose duties on key service providers to protect public services from cyber-attacks. The government has said that new legislation to support cyber security research and increase the security of enterprise connected devices may also be introduced.

This briefing has been prepared to assist members of the House of Lords in the debates on the King’s Speech. It draws upon material from the public domain and does not constitute official information about the government’s intentions or provide a complete list of bills to be announced.