Acuity AutoRedact - A Blog for data protection officers and experts

How to Handle "Manifestly Unfounded or Excessive" Requests Under Updated ICO Guidance

Andrew Walls

Published on: 25/02/2026

Learn how UK DPOs can legally refuse "manifestly unfounded or excessive" DSARs under updated ICO guidance and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. Discover the thresholds for refusal and how to manage borderline requests efficiently.

Manifestly unfounded DSARmanifestly excessive subject access requestICO DSAR guidance 2026Data Use and Access Act 2025refuse a DSAR UKstop the clock DSARreasonable and proportionate searchautomate DSAR redaction

The DPO’s Guide to "Reasonable and Proportionate" Searches: What the 2025 Act Actually Means

Andrew Walls

Published on: 23/02/2026

Understand how the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 empowers UK DPOs to conduct "reasonable and proportionate" DSAR searches. Learn how to legally limit search scope, use the "stop the clock" rule, and automate the redaction of the data you find.

Reasonable and proportionate search DSARData Use and Access Act 2025ICO DSAR guidance 2026stop the clock DSARlimit DSAR scopeUK GDPR complianceautomated redaction softwareprevent false redactions