About the DRCF

WHO WE ARE

The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum, or DRCF, brings together four UK regulators with responsibilities for digital regulation – the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Ofcom. These regulators set up the DRCF in 2020 to make it easier for them to collaborate on digital regulatory matters.

The DRCF supports cooperation and coordination between members and enables coherent, informed and responsive regulation of the UK digital economy. This effective collaboration greatly benefits UK citizens and consumers online.

In order to build valuable international relationships with regulators seeking to increase domestic cooperation in their respective jurisdictions, the DRCF launched the International Network for Digital Regulation Cooperation (INDRC) in June 2023. The INDRC’s objectives are to foster discussion between regulators across digital regimes and to gather insights into how overseas jurisdictions are approaching domestic regulatory coherence and cohesion.

MEMBERS

CMA

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is an independent department of the UK government. Its primary focus is to ensure that competition and markets work in favour of consumers. The CMA's goals include enforcement, consumer protection and ensuring that all UK business is conducted fairly and legally to the highest standards. For more information, click here

Ofcom

Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK. It regulates the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. It is also the online safety regulator.

ICO

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent public authority set up to uphold information rights. It upholds information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals. For more information, click here

FCA

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the financial services industry in the UK. Its role includes protecting consumers, keeping the industry stable, and promoting healthy competition between financial service providers. The FCA regulates the conduct of 50,000 firms in the UK, ensuring our financial markets are honest, competitive and fair. For more information, click here

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

Key Documents

DRCF Terms of Reference • PDF • 106.44 KB

HOW WE WORK

Agile and responsive

The DRCF is a voluntary forum. It is not a statutory entity, nor does it have a statutory remit. This enables DRCF regulators to adopt an agile approach and respond quickly to developments in the digital space. The DRCF does not provide formal advice or direction to member regulators, who remain individually accountable for the delivery of their functions.

Expert cooperation

The DRCF is resourced and funded equally by the four member regulators. The DRCF consists of a small core team, led by the DRCF CEO, which supports project teams composed of experts drawn from the four regulators. These experts come together to tackle the DRCF’s shared agenda, which is agreed by our member CEOs and set out in the annual workplan, working bilaterally, trilaterally or quadrilaterally as needed.

Stakeholder engagement

The DRCF engages extensively with stakeholders to gather inputs and insights to inform its thinking; to amplify project impacts and outcomes, and to support coordination on digital issues. Key stakeholders include academia, industry, consumer groups and civil society. The DRCF engages with them via roundtables, focus groups and larger symposia. It also meets regularly with Government and Parliamentarians.

Working with other regulators

The DRCF works closely with other domestic and international regulators outside its membership. It shares knowledge and best practice on digital issues through quarterly roundtables with ten other UK regulators, and seeks to involve other regulators in specific areas of work. It also meets frequently with international agencies to share knowledge and has established an international community of regulatory authorities with similar approaches to collaborating on digital regulation.