Services

New security obligations on UK telecoms providers

by

On 17 November 2021, the Telecoms (Security) Act 2021, amending the Communications Act 2003, was enacted, with its provisions coming into force over time. The legislation: imposes new primary security obligations on communications providers; enables the UK to make the (currently draft) ‘Designated Vendor Direction’ in respect of Huawei; and will be further operationalised by …

Read more

New UK foreign investment law to impact telecoms, digital and data transactions

by

Summary By the end of 2021, many corporate transactions in the communications, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence, satellite and space technologies sectors (and some others) will be subject to mandatory notification to, and national security review by, the UK government. Implementation timetable The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (“Act“) became part of UK law on …

Read more

EU and UK set out digital plans for coming decade

by

The European Commission has proposed a ‘digital compass’ to set its course for a digitally empowered Europe by 2030. The UK’s Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) has also set out its top ten priorities for a technology driven future to ‘build back better’ following the Covid19 pandemic. European Digital Compass At a press …

Read more

Data export: EU provides more clarity after Schrems II

by

In documents published last week, the EU provided some welcome clarity on how organisations should address the invalidation of Privacy Shield as a basis for exporting personal data from the EU. On 10 November 2020, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) adopted recommendations on ‘supplemental measures’, which can be considered to ensure compliance with the …

Read more

EDPB guidance on ‘supplemental measures’ for data export

by

On 10 November, the European Data Protection Board adopted a recommendation on supplemental measures which might be used to ensure compliance with the EU level of protection of personal data when exported to third countries with an insufficient level of protection. The recommendation both sets out a process to be followed by data exporters and, …

Read more

Prospect of increased regulation in UK for digital giants

by

The Competition and Markets Authority, the UK Competition regulator, has said it will act against Facebook and Google if the government doesn’t set up a digital regulator within a year. According to the Financial Times, Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: ‘Plan A is to have a regulatory framework. If [within a year] …

Read more

European Data Protection Board releases updated controller / processor guidance for comment

by

Are you sure you are a data processor? Introduction On 7 September 2020, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), successor to the ‘article 29 working party’, released updated guidance on the concepts of ‘data controller’ and ‘data processor’ under European Privacy law (i.e. General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR). Whilst this has already been subject …

Read more

UK Intellectual Property Office seeks views on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property

by

On 7 September 2020, the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) published a call for views on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the UK’s Intellectual Property (IP) laws. Responses are due by 30 November. The consultation takes place against the backdrop of worldwide interest in AI and the law by governments and regulators. The …

Read more