This week's Techlaw News Round-Up

Law Commission extends call for evidence on smart contracts, DCMS Select Committee launches inquiry on impact of influencers, HMRC issues updated cryptoassets manual, Research paper on loot boxes and gambling published, Phone-paid Services Authority consultation on new code of practice and more in this week’s round-up of UK and EU techlaw developments.

Competition and Markets Authority Digital Markets Unit starts work

New unit launching in “shadow” form before legislation is passed granting full powers.

Ofcom launches consultation about on-demand programme services and who needs to notify

ODPS are video on-demand services regulated under Part 4A of the Communications Act 2003

Frameworks For Optimal Outcomes and how they can help resolve IT disputes

Richard Kerr, architect of the Optimal Outcomes Framework, explains how these frameworks can help when planning an IT project or help resolve a dispute where a project has been derailed.

This week's Techlaw News Round-Up

High Court decision on databases, Citizens’ Biometrics Council report , ICO issues guidance on national security, Ofcom and PSA plans of work, CMA says Facebook’s purchase of Giphy raises competition concerns, but clears Uber/Autocab deal; and more in this week’s round-up of UK, Irish and EU techlaw developments.

MEPs seek to prevent English data exports

Computers & Law has learnt that a group of MEPs is lobbying to impose conditions on the European Commission's recommendation that the UK should be granted adequacy for data protection purposes.

Do you use MailChimp? Bavarian DPA holds that its use was unlawful under GDPR

Martin Sloan reports on a decision from one of the German data protection authorities has cast doubt over whether use of the popular email marketing platform by EU organisations MailChimp is lawful under GDPR. The decision emphases the importance carrying out full assessments on the use of US-hosted technology services and transfers of personal data outside the UK and EU/EEA, following last year's Schrems II decision.

To pay or not to pay: how to fight ransomware in 2021

Peter Yapp, our regular contributor on cybersecurity, with some suggestions on how best to tackle the growing menace that is ransomware.

Law Commission ponders review of a range of tech laws

Law Commission says that this is a period of acute social, technological and political change as it consults on 14th programme of work

This Week's Techlaw News Round-Up

ASA report on influencer advertising, ICO says that update is coming for anonymisation guidance, Data adequacy memorandum, Action on nuisance calls, Scottish AI strategy and more in this week’s round-up of UK and EU techlaw developments.

UK government issues response to call for views on AI & IP

Government will consult later this year on legislative change for protecting AI-generated inventions which would otherwise not meet inventorship criteria.

Ofcom consults on guidance for video-sharing platform providers on measures to protect users from harmful material

One in seven platform users claim to have been exposed to potentially harmful material

CMA takes court action against Norton for withholding information in auto-renewing investigation

This is the first time the CMA has had to take this step in a consumer protection case.

Regulating artificial intelligence: Where are we now? Where are we heading?

A team from DLA Piper review where we are with the regulation of AI and the myriad guidance now available from regulators and governments

Enlarged Board of Appeal provides guidance on how computer-implemented simulations might be patentable under European Patent Convention

Highest judicial authority under the EPC was considering application related to modelling of pedestrian movement.

Ofcom announces new regulations to upgrade broadband

The new regulations will apply to BT from April 2021 until March 2026.

SCL and BCS Law Specialist Group Joint event: The Government by Algorithm Debate - Thursday 15 April 2021 @ 6.30 pm

Society for Computers and Law Annual General Meeting - Wednesday 21 April 2021 @ 2.15 pm

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

SCL Digital Media Group event: “Digital Disruption of the Entertainment Industry” - Thursday 29 April 2021 @ 12 pm

SCL webinar: Bias Issues and AI - Thursday 6 May 2021 @ 4 pm

**Save the Date** SCL Privacy and DP Group Masterclass: "Getting ready for the new SCC's" - Tuesday 15 June 2021 @ 4 pm

Organised by the SCL Privacy and Data Protection Group

**Save the Date** SCL Annual Conference 2021 "Tech Law and Civil Society" - Wednesday 6 October 2021 & Thursday 7 October 2021

Working together for the common good – challenges and opportunities for the tech law community