The three EU institutions - Commission, Parliament and Council of the EU - reached a provisional agreement on the Digital Services Act, (DSA) on 22 April 2022. In this briefing we highlight its main provisions and their implications for companies, particularly regarding compliance and future regulatory ramifications.
Who are the UK's digital regulators?
Written by Matthew Niblett on 10 Mar 2022
Inline’s previous blog explored the UK Government’s aspirations for the technology and digital sectors and its legislative plans to make the UK a global leader in the space. In this blog, we look at the organisations responsible for regulating the UK’s tech sector, focusing on their powers and for which areas they have responsibility. We highlight some of the regulatory issues that these regulators are dealing with and which we advise tech companies should monitor.
Regulating the data economy (Part II): how will the Data Act regulate government access to data?
Written by Angeliki Tsanta on 03 Feb 2022
As explained in our previous blog, the European Commission is working on a legislative proposal to ensure European businesses, consumers and governments fully benefit from the free flow of data and are empowered to make better-informed decisions. This initiative, known as the Data Act, will not only regulate data sharing among companies (business-to-business, B2B), but will also specify in which cases and under which conditions companies must share data with governments (business-to-government, B2G). This blog analyses the EU’s plans for the B2G data sharing and identifies outstanding issues for businesses.
Regulating data sharing (Part I) – How will the EU Data Act impact your business?
Written by Fabio Barbero on 27 Jan 2022
In 2025, the value of the data economy in the European Union will be comparable to the GDP of the Netherlands. The actual impact that data will have on European economies and societies, however, will depend as much on technological advancements as on the rules that will govern data use and data sharing. In February 2022, the European Commission is expected to publish a proposal for a Regulation to facilitate data sharing and use between companies (business-to-business, or B2B) and between businesses and governments (business-to-government, or B2G). Known as the Data Act, this long-awaited initiative will have far-reaching impacts on companies, the public sector, and consumers. In this two-part series, we look at what issues the Data Act should address to harness the value of data while ensuring innovation, property rights, and privacy. This blog focuses on business-to-business data-sharing.
Digital Services Act: EU institutions seek to tighten rules for online players
Written by Mathilde Quembre on 13 Jan 2022
The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), currently working its way through the legislative process, will create an unprecedented set of new rules for intermediary service providers. The legislation will establish a framework for content moderation and reinforce the rules for platforms that should serve to further protect the fundamental rights of all users of digital services across Europe. This blog looks at the DSA’s progress and the positions recently taken by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. We explore how they are seeking to re-shape the original proposal and what this means for businesses and consumers.
Reviewing cyber resilience: how will the NIS 2 Directive impact EU businesses?
Written by Fabio Barbero on 21 Jul 2021
Our work, education, social interactions, and leisure time take place online more than ever before. Every day enough people to populate a city the size of Frankfurt join the World Wide Web, bringing digital technologies to new users. COVID-19 has increased reliance on technologies such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Netflix and e-commerce platforms.
The Online Safety Bill: what’s next and key areas for debate
Written by Nicolette Stickland on 23 Jun 2021
The UK Government has published a draft Online Safety Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny. This marks the start of a lengthy legislative process likely to be full of lively debate. In this blog, Nicolette Stickland outlines the next steps and some areas of the Bill likely to attract scrutiny by Parliamentarians.
Online advertising: the next regulatory turf war?
Written by Megan Stagman on 27 Nov 2020
Few policy areas fit neatly within the remit of one regulatory authority or government department. Online advertising is no different. Earlier this year, we evaluated proposals by DCMS and the UK’s competition regulator to regulate digital marketing. Building on this jigsaw of stakeholders, we examine the latest strategies developed by another critical policymaking actor - the Advertising Standards Authority – and its recent efforts to defend what was historically its territory.
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 European Parliament 2019-24: a guide for the tech sector
Written by Rory Coutts on 10 Sep 2019
The European Parliament has resumed its work after the summer break and the 2019-2024 term will include a range of policy areas impacting the digital economy. Download Inline Policy's free updated guide to the new Parliament and the people and issues matter for the tech sector.
Towards an enhanced responsibility of online platforms: the EU Digital Services Act
Written by Denisa Avram on 31 Jul 2019
Under long-standing EU rules online service providers enjoyed liability exemptions in many instances, but concerns about developments in the digital economy have led the European Commission to question these exemptions and consider new rules.
Finnish Government sets out its policy priorities for the EU over the next six months
Written by Owain Richards on 02 Jul 2019
The Finnish Government's work programme for its Presidency of the Council of the EU includes important positions on EU technology policy, platform regulation, the digital economy, Mobility-as-a-Service and digital taxation. Our briefing document outlines the implications for the tech sector.
Opportunities for the tech sector during the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU
Written by Owain Richards on 11 Jun 2019
Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU begins on 1 July and presents opportunities for the tech sector to engage with policymakers in a broadly pro-technology Member State who will be in a leadership role over the six-month presidency.
Personal data mobility: the new front in the battle for the digital economy
Written by Olaf Cramme on 30 May 2019
Data portability rules in GDPR do very little to alter the balance of power in the digital economy. Could a shift to an economy based on data mobility give individuals true control over their personal data, tackle antitrust concerns around big tech, and strengthen workers in the gig economy?
EU elections 2019 - the results and implications for the tech sector
Written by Owain Richards on 27 May 2019
The 2019 European elections mark a pivotal movement for the European Union and the tech sector. Download Inline's free guide to the election results and the implications for the tech sector.
EU elections 2019: The MEP candidates who matter for the tech sector
Written by Denisa Avram on 22 May 2019
The European Parliamentary elections taking place on 23-26 May 2019 will be the most significant yet for the tech sector. Ahead of the poll, we have produced a short guide to the key MEP candidates to watch when it comes to the big issues for the tech sector and the broader digital economy.
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.