Watch the recording: The weaponisation of Subject Access Requests
14th July, 2026
In this webinar, Phil Tompkins and Robert Eldon provided an expert overview on how to deal with the surge in AI driven subject access requests, what makes a request complex and manifestly unfounded or manifestly excessive and how to deal with complaints and claims about SARs. We also looked at the new right to complain and how this will impact on SARs.
The increase in the number of SARs in recent years and their increased complexity has led to SARs creating a significant burden for compliance, human resources teams and organisations more generally.
This session considered:
- Weaponisation of SARs, including how SARs are increasingly being used to cause disruption
- The growing trend of SARs being drafted using AI tools
- The requirement to conduct reasonable and proportionate searches
- Organisations’ obligations in relation to informing individuals of their right to complain, and how these requirements may affect the handling and outcome of SARs
- The rise in claims, complaints, and litigation arising from alleged failures to comply
This is especially relevant to in-house lawyers, DPOs, company secretaries, compliance and governance teams.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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