Quantum technologies are enabling technologies that work in a different way to their classical counterparts. They make use of quantum phenomena to unlock new capabilities and could be used in many different future applications. Many of these technologies are still at an early stage of development, such as quantum computers. Others are already commercialised, such as certain next generation quantum sensing technologies. Researchers and business are still exploring potential real world use cases. For example:
- Quantum computers have the potential to solve certain problems exponentially faster than the computers we use today. This includes some problems that current computers effectively cannot solve. Potential applications cover a range of industries including physics, finance, materials science and medicine.
- The next generation of quantum sensors and advanced quantum timing technologies (optical clocks) have the potential to reach unprecedented measurement precision. Potential applications include medical diagnostics, urban infrastructure and environmental resource management, climate change planning, surveillance and jamming-resistant navigation for defence.
- Quantum enhanced imaging techniques could enable new functions, such as cameras that:
- detect the presence of people and objects around corners or behind walls;
- more accurately identify molecules inside the body; or
- provide clear images, even in foggy or congested environments.
The different techniques have potential applications in fields like medical research, autonomous vehicle safety, defence and law enforcement.
- Quantum communications offer a new method for securely sharing cryptographic keys. They use the physical properties of light in a quantum state, rather than the maths problems used in current encryption. Other techniques could enable early quantum computers to link together and share information in a quantum state. This could increase their processing power and help to secure information. They could contribute to a future network of quantum computers, or a ‘quantum internet’, running parallel to the existing internet.
There are significant technical, engineering and commercial barriers to overcome before different technologies may reach their transformative potential. Nonetheless, they have the potential to unlock scientific and technological innovation across the economy. The previous UK government set out five quantum missions for 2035 and outlined a goal of achieving a “quantum enabled-economy” by 2033 3. With such goals, the UK seeks to capitalise on the anticipated benefits and avoid being left behind in the ‘race’ for global science and technology advantage 4.
Our engagement with developments in quantum technologies
Alongside technological developments, there are early ongoing discussions about the future approach for regulating use cases for quantum technologies, based around a responsible innovation approach 5. We have contributed to this conversation through our work with the DRCF and our most recent Tech horizons report, and wider engagement with bodies such as the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) Office for Quantum.
We are responsible for overseeing the UK’s data protection, privacy and information rights legislation. We regulate the processing of personal information (ie any information that relates to an identifiable living person). This legislation imposes obligations on organisations processing personal information and sets out the rights of people whose personal information they are processing. We have a broad, cross-economy remit that is likely to intersect with some, but not all, applications of quantum technologies.
We support efforts to encourage responsible innovation in quantum technologies by DSIT, the RHC and industry. Compliance with data protection law – including ensuring data protection by design and default – is one of many important factors that will support this. That said, data protection considerations are only one part of a complex national and international picture. As with any cross-sectoral innovation, the emerging landscape is complex and intersects with a wide range of existing regulatory remits.
Our initial work has identified issues where existing data protection regulations are already relevant. It also highlights questions about the intersection of information rights and data protection law, privacy and quantum technologies.
Scope of this report
This report explores quantum technologies, covering future use cases and issues that are relevant to our work. This means those that may involve processing personal information. For that reason, it excludes many other plausible and near-term use cases.
This report explores the following issues:
- Future quantum use cases that may involve or impact on personal information processing, and potential timescales.
- Ways that quantum technologies may converge with other priority technologies we have explored in our previous Tech horizons reports.
- The potential privacy and information rights implications of future use cases. This includes, the extent to which the ‘quantum’ aspect of quantum technologies may pose novel issues for privacy and information rights, or exacerbate existing issues.
- The future of information security in light of the risks from a quantum computer, and our role in supporting the transition to a “quantum secure” future.
We seek to:
- better understand the technology and landscape, and how existing data protection law may apply now and in future;
- identify opportunities to engage early with industry and set out our regulatory responses;
- identify when and where our voice may be most useful to encourage data protection by design and default; and
- support and contribute to government’s broader aim of encouraging responsible innovation in quantum technologies.
We encourage those interested in a wider perspective on quantum technologies and their use cases to refer to the DRCF quantum technologies insights paper, and websites of the UK’s quantum hubs and the National Quantum Computing Centre 6.
Invitation to engage on quantum technologies
This report represents our early stage thinking. We welcome contact from any stakeholders wishing to continue the conversation. Please contact our emerging technology inbox: [email protected].
3 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) Policy paper on the national quantum strategy missions (2023); DSIT National quantum strategy (2023).
4 DSIT National quantum strategy
5 See, for example, Regulatory Horizons Council Independent report on regulating quantum technology applications (2024); Link to the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) responsible quantum industry forum expression of interest; TechUK guest blog by the NQCC on charting the landscape for responsible and ethical quantum computing (2024)
6 The website of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme contains links to all of the UK quantum Hubs.