‘World-First’ Agreement on AI Reached

Over one hundred representatives from across the globe convened in the UK on 1-2 November 2023 at the Global AI Safety Summit. The focus of the Summit was to discuss how best to manage the risks posed by the most recent advances in AI. However, it was the “Bletchley Declaration” –announced at the start of the Summit—which truly emphasized the significance governments are attributing to these issues. (more…)

Latest Developments on AI in the EU: the Saga Continues

EU AI Act

Up until recently, political agreement on the final text of the EU Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AI Act) was expected on 6 December 2023. However, latest developments indicated roadblocks in the negotiations due to three key discussion points – please see our previous blog post here. EU officials are reported to be meeting twice this week to discuss a compromise mandate on EU governments’ position on the text, in preparation of the political meeting on 6 December. (more…)

Agreement Reached on the EU’s Data Act

On 27 November 2023, the Council adopted the final text of the Data Act which facilitates (and in certain cases, mandates) the access to (personal and non-personal) data. The Data Act was originally proposed by the European Commission in 2022. Alongside the EU Data Governance Act (which came into force in June 2022) the Data Act forms part of the EU’s Data Strategy which aims to “make the EU a leader in a data-driven society”. (more…)

Preparing for the EU AI Act

Join Sidley and OneTrust DataGuidance for a webinar on the EU AI Act. This discussion with industry panellists will cover initial reactions to the (anticipated) political agreement on the EU AI Act following key negotiations by the European legislative bodies on December 6, 2023.

(more…)

USA: An Overview of State Data Privacy Laws Part Two – Scope and Enforcement

The U.S. state data privacy landscape is fast evolving into a patchwork of broad state privacy laws that govern for-profit and non-profit entities that meet certain threshold criteria and the personal information of residents in each of those states. In Part 2 of the OneTrust DataGuidance Insight articles on state data privacy laws, Sidley lawyer Sheri Porath Rockwell compares the scope and enforcement provisions of the comprehensive data privacy laws that have been enacted in 13 states to date.  While individual state data privacy laws share common features of transparency, data subject rights, opt-outs for sales and targeted advertising, and no private right of action, there are significant differences among them, including with respect to the types of entities and data that are in scope and enforcement approaches.

(more…)

Insights from the IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress: Regulatory Convergence on AI and Sidley’s Women in Privacy Networking Lunch

The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) held its annual Europe Data Protection Congress in Brussels on November 15 & 16, 2023. Whilst the Congress covered a wide range of topics related to privacy, cybersecurity and the regulation of data more broadly, unsurprisingly a recurring theme throughout was the responsible development, commercialization and use of AI. In this regard panelists explored (amongst other things) what practical and effective AI governance may look like, the role of a Digital Ethics Officer, how to strike a balance between enabling innovation and safeguarding individual rights, and how AI may be used to automate data breach detection and response.

(more…)

EU Moving Closer to an AI Act?

On 24 October 2023, the European Parliament and Member States concluded a fourth round of trilogue discussions on the draft Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AI Act). Policymakers agreed on provisions to classify high-risk AI systems and also developed general guidance for the use of “enhanced” foundation models. However, the negotiations did not lead to substantial progress on provisions for prohibitions in relation to the use of AI by law enforcement. The next round of trilogue discussions will take place on 6 December 2023.

(more…)

UK Information Commissioner’s Office Publishes Toolkit for Data Sharing with Law Enforcement

The Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) has introduced a toolkit on data sharing with law enforcement (“Toolkit”) which supplements the ICO’s existing guidance on sharing personal data with law enforcement authorities. The Toolkit is intended to function as a tool for smaller organisations to make an informed decision about whether to share personal data with law enforcement. Larger organisations with expertise in data protection are encouraged to refer to the ICO’s data sharing code of practice but in any event, the Toolkit is intended to help provide clarity for all organisations in making decisions relating to this type of sharing.

(more…)

Schumer Framework May Forge U.S. Model on AI Governance

*This article first appeared on Law360 on September 5, 2023.

This summer, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed a distinctive new framework to develop a comprehensive artificial intelligence regulatory policy that is intended to be adamantly bipartisan and committed, as a first principle, to preserving innovation and intellectual property rights.

(more…)

Alan Charles Raul

Washington, D.C., New York

Oregon Enacts Comprehensive Consumer Data Privacy Law

On July 18, 2023, Oregon joined the growing league of states that have passed a comprehensive data privacy framework. Signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek, the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (the Act), or SB 619, is the product of a multi-year effort by the state Consumer Privacy Task Force formed by Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum, comprising 150 consumer privacy experts from various industries. The Act will take effect on July 1, 2024, except for some provisions that will not take effect until January 1, 2026.

(more…)