UK signs first international treaty addressing risks of AI

Last week, the UK and other parties including the EU signed a new international treaty aimed at combating the potential threats of AI. The new treaty was agreed by the Council of Europe and commits parties to collective action to manage AI products and protect the public from potential misuse. It includes important safeguards against…

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CMA objects to Google’s ad tech practices in bid to help UK advertisers and publishers

The Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found that Google is using anti-competitive practices in open-display ad tech, which it believes could be harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers. In its 2019 market study into digital advertising, the CMA found that advertisers were spending around £1.8 billion annually on open-display ads, marketing goods and…

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CMA launches investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis concert online sales

Following the controversy over the Oasis concert sales at the end of August, particularly the issues around “dynamic pricing” the Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Ticketmaster. According to the Times, hundreds of fans complained to the Advertising Standards Authority after surge pricing on the Ticketmaster website led to the cost of standard tickets more…

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This Week’s Techlaw News Round-up

UK law CMA closes ESS case following developments in the market The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened its case into ESS in May, following concerns that ESS was taking action to prevent schools from switching to an alternative management information systems (MIS) provider. MIS databases handle student information, such as attendance and safeguarding.  Schools…

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ICO calls for evidence about allocating controllership across the generative AI supply chain

The ICO is consulting on generative AI development and use. It is part of the ICO’s consultation series on generative AI and data protection. It forms the fifth and final section and focuses on the allocation of accountability for data protection compliance across the generative AI supply chain. The ICO says that the allocation of…

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CMA approves Meta’s changes to data use rules

Meta provides digital display advertising services.  These are a type of digital advertising where advertisers pay online companies (for example, social media platforms) to display advertising on the websites or apps. In June 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 into suspected breaches of competition…

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Ofcom issues update on implementing the Media Act 2024

In May 2024, the Media Act 2024 received Royal Assent and was passed into law. The legislation represents the biggest change to the public service media framework in two decades. The Act makes changes to Ofcom’s existing responsibilities as the UK’s regulator of broadcast media, including: Earlier this year Ofcom published its roadmap for compliance….

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CMA closes Competition Act cases regarding app store concerns

The CMA has closed the Competition Act cases into Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store on the grounds of administrative priorities and has not taken any decisions as to whether the Competition Act 1998 has been infringed. The CMA has taken this decision before the new digital markets regime comes into force. Although the…

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This Week’s Techlaw News Round-up

UK law Media Act 2024 (Commencement No 1) Regulations 2024 made The Media Act 2024 (Commencement No 1) Regulations 2024 have been made. They bring most provisions of the Media Act 2024 into force as of 23 August 2024. Regulation 4 provides for linked commencement where provisions of the Act make amendments to legislation that…

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Deceptive Dark Patterns scrutinised in GPEN Global Report

Deceptive Design Patterns (DDPs) or “dark patterns” are often found on websites and apps.  They “nudge” consumers into making decisions that may not be in their interests. Examples include additional charges at the end of a transaction after a person has committed time to the purchase process, or users being forced to provide payment details…

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