Innovators vs. Regulators: Will Civilian Drones Thrive in Europe?

Written by Inline Policy on 19 Dec 2014

In our recent analysis piece about the future regulation of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), we provided some insight into the main EU institutions and agencies involved in the creation of harmonised rules across Europe. Since then, the 2016 deadline the European Commission had initially set for new regulations to be approved has been removed, and not replaced.

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Climate Change COP 20: The International Negotiations Stay (Just About) On Track

Written by Inline Policy on 17 Dec 2014

In Lima, at the beginning of this week, after two weeks of the usual tortuous negotiations, the 196 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) emerged with the Lima Call for Climate Action. This sets out the main priority issues for the parties in relation to the landmark COP 21 in Paris in December 2015 - the deadline for an international agreement on climate change - and attaches a 39-page document (a “non-paper”) containing various options for different elements of  a draft negotiating text.

This note analyses Lima’s outcomes and the prospects for an international climate agreement in Paris 12 months away.

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International Climate Change: What does next week's conference in Lima hold?

Written by Inline Policy on 27 Nov 2014

On 1 December representatives of the 196 parties (member countries) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will gather in Lima for the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) international meeting. The climate negotiations have in recent years - especially since the conspicuous failure of parties at Copenhagen in 2009 to agree an international treaty - tended to be regarded as a non-event, an interminable discussion from which nothing material ever emerges. Will Lima, COP 20, be any different?

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Online advertising – The rise of real-time bidding

Written by Inline Policy on 24 Oct 2014

According to a recent report, the total global spend on advertising will reach £320.5bn over the course of this year, boosted by 17.1% growth in internet advertising. The growth of the “adtech” industry is dramatically changing the way that advertisers, publishers and consumers interact. This article will look at a key technological driver of this growth, known as real-time bidding (RTB), and explore what we can expect from this in the next decade.

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Drones Without Borders: Future Common Standards in the EU?

Written by Inline Policy on 15 Oct 2014

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), more commonly referred to as ‘civil drones’ or ‘unmanned aerial vehicles’ (UAVs), can perform tasks that manned systems are sometimes unable to perform. They can be useful for surveillance purposes, border control, agriculture, firefighting, or media and entertainment, amongst other applications. The EU and some of its Member States have in recent years acknowledged the benefits of this new technology. The latter have, in certain cases, introduced new regulations that enable the industry to flourish, whilst minimising potential issues that may arise within their territory.

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Sharing Economy in the Party Conference spotlight

Written by Inline Policy on 02 Oct 2014

With the news on Monday that the UK Government has announced an independent sharing economy review, to be led by Love Home Swap CEO Debbie Wosskow, and also the recommendation last week from Labour Digital in its Number One in Digital report that the Government should “conduct a review the rules and regulations surrounding the sharing economy”, it is evident that this issue is becoming increasingly a topic at the forefront of politicians’ thinking. Given these developments, as well as the recent publication of reports from Nesta and PwC, it proved a timely moment for Inline to gather leading thinkers, business representatives and policy makers at both the Labour and Conservative Party conferences to discuss what this all means for the UK.

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Inline at Conservative Party Conference - The Sharing Economy: driving UK jobs and growth?

Written by Inline Policy on 28 Sep 2014

Following on from our event on Tuesday 23 September at the Labour Party conference, we have assembled another panel of leading thinkers on the sharing economy for an event at the Conservative Party conference on Monday 29 September. We will be discussing a number of issues such as the economic opportunity for the UK, and some of the emerging regulatory themes in the sharing economy.

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Inline at Labour Party Conference - The Sharing Economy: driving UK jobs and growth?

Written by Inline Policy on 17 Sep 2014

We are delighted to be hosting fringe events at both the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences this year. We have assembled a panel of leading thinkers on the sharing economy to discuss everything from the economic opportunity for the UK, to some of the emerging regulatory trends. Panellists and event details for the Labour Party fringe event can be found below. The full Conservative Party fringe line-up will be announced early next week.

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Online dating: growth, regulation, and future challenges

Written by Inline Policy on 08 Sep 2014

It has become increasingly common for individuals to find their partners online, a trend which started around 1997. Back then, not everyone acknowledged the benefits of this activity, which was perceived as a rather impersonal way of finding love. In recent years, a new generation of tech savvy individuals has emerged, which regularly uses devices to keep in touch with their friends and relatives, as well as for access to online dating sites or apps. In addition, older adults have also discovered the benefits of online dating services to connect with other people; and today they represent a significant segment of the online dating market. Why struggle to find someone special in a crowded bar when you can do it more easily and effectively from the comfort of your own home?

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Bright future for alternative finance following Osborne’s announcement

Written by Conor Brennan on 28 Aug 2014

The American business magazine, Forbes, recently crowned London ‘the world’s most influential city’, paying special attention to the role it plays in leading innovation in technology. The accolade comes on the coattails of Chancellor George Osborne announcing the launch of a major new trade body for the UK FinTech industry, in London’s Canary Wharf.

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The UK government reshuffle: the implications for energy and climate policy

Written by Inline Policy on 24 Jul 2014

Now that the dust has settled a little, it’s worth examining Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent reshuffle in more detail, and what it might mean for the coalition’s policies on climate change and energy between now and next May’s General Election.

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Price comparison websites in the spotlight

Written by Inline Policy on 21 Jul 2014

Price Comparison Websites (PCWs) are popular tools amongst tech-savvy consumers, especially in the consumer goods, energy and financial sectors. The key to their attractiveness is that they allow consumers to quickly search for and compare the best deals in the market. PCWs usually operate on either a flat-fee, or a commission-based model and attract new customers via online and offline advertising. Some of the biggest players have become very profitable, thus attracting new companies to enter the market.

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European Banking Authority begins the debate on an EU-wide virtual currency regulation

Written by Conor Brennan on 15 Jul 2014

At the beginning of the month, the European Banking Authority (EBA), the institution charged with overseeing the European banking sector, proposed guidelines for a regulatory regime for virtual currency. The report has now been presented to the EU Council, Commission and Parliament for consideration. The report also issues guidelines for national supervisory bodies.

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Dark pools and the push for transparency

Written by Conor Brennan on 14 Jul 2014

Goldman Sachs received an $800,000 fine from US regulators a fortnight ago for failing to meet the guidelines for trading within a private forum. Private trading platforms, commonly known as dark pools, now account for 15% of all US trading over 40 closed exchanges. Regulators are beginning to take note and see how they can limit the risk involved.

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Wearable technology: market growth, rapid innovation and developing policy

Written by Inline Policy on 11 Jul 2014

Clothes which measure your heart rate and locate you via GPS while you run. Smart watches that can be used as an extension of your smartphone. The ability to access the internet with your glasses.  These are just a few examples of the most recent wearable technology devices.

But is there enough demand for these innovative products? According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), estimated global sales will exceed 19 million units in 2014, more than triple last year’s sales. In 2018, sales are predicted to increase up to 111.9 million units.

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Music streaming maintains its upward trajectory

Written by Inline Policy on 04 Jul 2014

The way in which people listen to music has been fundamentally changed by digital technology. The rapid growth in music streaming, in particular, has led some even to argue that it could destroy the music industry entirely. Regulators are having to deal with this digital shift as copyright rules, and other associated regulations, were often designed decades ago. The pace of technological change can also mean that even when regulation is updated, it can quickly become out-of-step with the latest advancements. The disruption is huge, as are the headaches for regulators and policy makers.

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Energy and environment: the Brussels institutions start getting back to business

Written by Inline Policy on 02 Jul 2014

The questions of who will occupy the top jobs on environment and energy in Brussels over the next five years, particularly in the European Parliament (EP) and in the European Commission, will matter greatly. There is a big policy agenda ahead, coming at a testing time for European policies on energy markets and security of supply, which will have price implications for industry and consumers, and the decarbonisation strategy.

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Sharing economy in cities: moving towards a more inclusive urban future

Written by Inline Policy on 01 Jul 2014

The sharing economy makes headlines daily: from anti-Uber protests across Europe to Airbnb's recent £5.9bn valuation, new start-ups entering the private sector are offering more things to share (or rent, swap, borrow or barter) and more ways to do so.

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Regulatory battles accelerate in the peer-to-peer car sector

Written by Inline Policy on 30 Jun 2014

In recent weeks there have been numerous regulatory developments in the peer-to-peer car sector. The ongoing regulatory battles of Uber and Lyft, in particular, are grabbing the headlines and have illustrated how this is an area in which the regulatory environment is far from settled. The disruptive business models of such companies, all underpinned by advances in technology, are forcing policy makers to adapt regulatory frameworks which were often put in place decades ago.

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The global race for drone regulation

Written by Inline Policy on 27 Jun 2014

About a year ago, Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos announced that Amazon were testing unmanned drones – called Octopers – to start delivering packages to customers in five years’ time. This announcement gave Amazon a PR boost; and was perhaps also initiated in the hope of raising awareness around businesses being given authorisation to use drones commercially.

According to the US drone industry, regulation is necessary for it to be profitable, as current regulations in most jurisdictions prevent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from flying over densely populated areas.

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