With technology changing at lightning speed, it’s no surprise that we struggle to keep up with what is — and what’s not — legal when we use it. Need a little crash course? We caught up with Rebecca Kelly, co-founder of shizl, and solicitor specialising in technology, data and commercial law, to sort the fact from the fiction.
Never dial and drive
“If you’ve ever sneaked a quick scroll at a red light, think again: while the law used to prohibit calling or texting while driving, since 2022 any handheld interactive use is illegal. This includes taking photos or videos, scrolling through a playlist or checking social media. It even includes using the phone as a sat-nav if held in your hand. If caught, you could be looking at a minimum of six penalty points and a £200 fine. And if you passed your test within the last two years, this single offence could result in your driving licence being revoked. Even momentary inattention due to phone use can cause a severe accident, so leave your phone alone or in a hands-free cradle while driving.”
Lawful surveillance
“A video doorbell or camera is great for protecting your property, but you gain responsibilities if it records into your neighbour’s garden or the public street. Simply pointing a camera at the street or at your neighbour’s property can violate data protection laws, so while purely domestic use is fine, recording outside your boundary triggers legal obligations. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) requires you to take precautions if your camera captures areas outside your property line, which means angling cameras to minimise intrusion and displaying signs telling people they are being recorded. Footage can only be kept for a maximum of 31 days — and you must respond if a neighbour asks for copies. While the ICO often gives warnings for domestic cases, neighbours have a right to complain if your setup unreasonably intrudes on their privacy.”
Streaming sense
“Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, every time a film or series is accessed without permission, a copyright infringement occurs. Downloading is the most straightforward infringement, but even seemingly transient streaming is a breach, as it creates temporary reproductions of the content in your device’s cache memory. Those that sell illegal Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) boxes on a commercial scale can result in up to 10 years in prison and unlimited fines, while civil cases against commercial infringers can result in the offender being required to pay damages and have injunctions taken out against them. Ultimately you don’t know who knows you’ve got a ‘dodgy’ device, so beware of the consequences and purchase your TV box or stick from reputable sources.”
Subscription traps
“Companies make it all too easy to sign up for subscriptions online, only to force you to call, fill out complex forms, or navigate impossible menus to cancel them — but in April 2026, under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, companies must now make cancellation as simple as signing up. This means you should get clear information upfront about costs and renewal dates, with reminders before a free trial turns into a paid subscription with automatic renewals.”
Fake reviews
“Regulators are taking serious action to stop businesses from tricking consumers with manipulated reviews or paying to have negative reviews removed. Creating, hosting, or commissioning fake reviews is a criminal offence. Online shopping sites now face huge fines — up to 10% of global turnover — if they don’t implement reasonable systems to stop fake reviews, and if a business gives someone a product for free in exchange for a review, they must clearly disclose this publicly.”
