Insights from Inline Policy listing page
The role of women in tech has been making headlines recently. From the gender gap in the industry to the online abuse faced by women and girls, the challenges are increasingly visible. But so, too, are the opportunities — especially as greater inclusivity has been shown to drive innovation and growth.
This blog explores what plans to regulate gig-economy work could look like in the UK, suggesting examples officials might look to and the challenges they will face.
This blog will explain the background to the UK High Court’s recent decision in Wikimedia Foundation v Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, and will outline lessons learned for firms wishing to influence future policy (regarding the OSA and beyond). It does not constitute legal advice, but instead emphasises the advantage of consistent, politically-conscious messaging when engaging legislators. The blog therefore focuses in particular on the first and second limbs of the claim, which were largely based on Ofcom’s advice to the Secretary of State — advice in itself informed by prior stakeholder engagement. Our conclusion, given Wikimedia’s example, is that companies may be best served by showing, pre-emptively, how burdensome regulation can harm their business and the public good, defined in political terms, rather than by making a more purely technical argument about the letter of the law and then hoping for favourable advice from an already overstretched regulator.
Crypto-asset ownership in the UK is growing, comprising as much as 12% of the population according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The UK government, judging from recent financial-services announcements, certainly hopes crypto can supports its Plan for Growth. And yet industry remains concerned the UK is falling behind the US, Brazil, South Korea and others in taking advantage of these new technologies. This blog considers influences and likely scenarios for the crypto sector.
We are now a year into a Labour government in the UK, with digitalisation and technology playing a central role and forming a key part of the Plan for Growth. The government has placed tech at the heart of building a digital-based economy across its 5 core missions: safer streets, clean energy, economic growth, breaking down barriers and making the NHS fit for the future.
Civilian drones will likely be key drivers of growth and innovation. The EU has the rules in place to be a major player, but more urgency is needed to avoid falling further behind global competitors.