In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, enabling a seamless, contactless, traveller journey is becoming more a matter of necessity rather than an option. We provide an account of the regulatory challenges and opportunities for biometric technologies companies facilitating a seamless traveller experience.
Introducing the Product Liability Directive (Part II): what about AI?
Written by Giulia Iop on 26 Aug 2020
As we explained in our previous blog, European policy makers are pondering whether to revise the 1985 Product Liability Directive to make it ‘future-proof’ and ensure it remains fit for purpose amidst the growth of new technologies. Both the European Commission and European Parliament have addressed the issue in various formats and within different frameworks, both as part of a broader revision of European product safety regulation and/or as part of a planned regulation on Artificial Intelligence – whose aim would be to address the legal challenges of new automated technologies.
Introducing the Product Liability Directive (Part I)
Written by Owain Richards on 19 Aug 2020
The continued growth and application of new technologies raises new challenges for regulators and policymakers. Alongside new policy frameworks, existing regulations need to be re-evaluated to ensure that they remain proportionate, effective, fit-for-purpose and ‘future proof’. One such regulation is the Product Liability Directive, with growing calls for it to be reviewed.
Five tech sector winners from COVID-19
Written by Giulia Iop on 30 Apr 2020
The tech sector, as all other sectors of the economy, has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, but not necessarily in a negative way. The pandemic could in fact represent an opportunity for five key tech sub-sectors to innovate their business models and show policy makers the potential of new technologies for good during (and beyond) global crises.
The copyright directive is a warning signal for Europe’s AI ambitions
Written by Elena Riva on 15 Apr 2020
The EU has set great ambitions around artificial intelligence, seeking to accelerate innovation and foster a much more competitive environment. But as the example of the copyright directive shows, much can go wrong for Europe’s AI businesses if they do not pay attention to what will be proposed.
Does the EU need a new framework to regulate AI?
Written by Giulia Iop on 24 Jan 2020
The European Union is working on a new regulatory framework for artificial intelligence that seeks to ensure better consumer protection, while enhancing Europe’s technological competitiveness. The risk is for it to become but a duplication of already-existing practices and regulations.
The race for regulating facial recognition technology
Written by Megan Stagman on 16 Oct 2019
Facial recognition technology is controversial amongst consumers, and a lack of clear rules about how to apply it has caused concerns amongst both the public and regulators. However, the benefits in certain contexts are there for all to see, and the race is on between business and lawmakers to shape the regulatory landscape.
Inline's Data Policy Tracker, May 2019
Written by Conor Brennan on 16 May 2019
In the second of our regular Data Policy Tracker we cover the key political and regulatory changes, trends and developments impacting the data sector.
Launching Inline's new Data Policy Tracker
Written by Conor Brennan on 15 Apr 2019
In the first of our new regular Data Policy Trackers we cover the key political and regulatory changes, trends and developments impacting the data sector.
Can data sharing survive the new data protection regime?
Written by Conor Brennan on 05 Mar 2019
Nine months after "GDPR day" our new briefing paper assesses the fallout of the new EU data protection regime, the emerging trends in regulation of data sharing and how industry is responding.
Is Europe offering a Third Way in technology regulation?
Written by Olaf Cramme on 19 Feb 2019
Rapid technological transformations driven by US and Chinese companies are posing a serious challenge to Europe's policymakers. Third way politics looks set to shape much of the regulatory response.
Political pressure builds for reform of EU competition policy
Written by Rory Coutts on 14 Nov 2018
Governments and regulators are actively considering how competition policy should respond to the growth of the digital economy. A forthcoming report from the European Parliament provides an insight into the state of the debate in Brussels.
Beyond Data Protection: Shaping the Ethical Use of Data in the UK
Written by Conor Brennan on 01 Nov 2018
UK kicks off review of competition in digital markets
Written by David Abrahams on 20 Sep 2018
The UK Government has engaged a panel to review competition in digital markets, and one of the key themes is the concentration of 'big tech'. With the panel tasked with consulting industry and reporting by early 2019, companies seeking to influence the panel's thinking need to get started as soon as possible.
Big tech deserves a better political debate – here’s why
Written by Olaf Cramme on 18 Jul 2018
Breaking up big tech has become the argument of choice by those concerned about the concentration of power and the practices of large multinationals dominating the digital sphere. But does it make sense?
The top 5 most important European Parliamentary questions for the tech sector this year
Written by Rory Coutts on 10 Jul 2018
MEPs ask thousands of questions to the European Commission each year and during the 2009-2014 term of the European Parliament, over 10,000 questions were tabled. At Inline, our job is to cut through the noise, so here are the five most important questions for the tech sector in 2018.
Finding the path to ethical artificial intelligence?
Written by Olaf Cramme on 16 Apr 2018
Another day, another report on artificial intelligence? Not quite.
Published today, the 180-page volume by the House of Lords’ Select Committee is more than just the latest contribution to the emerging debate about the opportunities and challenges of AI. Led by experienced lawyers such as Baron Clement-Jones and renowned scholars like Lord Anthony Giddens, former director of the London School of Economics, it might well prove influential both in the UK and beyond.
Artificial intelligence: can public policy cope?
Written by Olaf Cramme on 12 Oct 2017
Business has long been convinced about the many opportunities offered by artificial intelligence (AI). Reports abound with estimates about the added value that applications powered by AI can create in the future. Literally everyone is on to it, from the dominant tech players in Silicon Valley all the way to established companies in the transport and utilities sectors. Even public authorities are joining the race. Countries as diverse as China, Canada, Germany and Singapore run significant programmes investing heavily in AI research capabilities or experimenting with early applications.
Robots and liability issues: the future regulatory framework
Written by Inline Policy on 30 Jun 2016
Robots are rapidly gaining public visibility as their development accelerates in conjunction with recent innovations in the domains of artificial intelligence, machine learning, machine-to-machine and machine-to-human interaction.