Categories

Archives

New York Attorney General Publishes Guide to Avoid “Key Mistakes” Regarding Online Tracking Technologies

On July 30, 2024, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced website privacy guides for New York consumers and businesses. The guides, a business-focused Business Guide to Website Privacy Controls and a consumer-focused Consumer Guide to Tracking on the Web, are available on the Office of the New York State Attorney General’s (the “OAG’s”) website. The Business Guide to Website Privacy Controls is instructive for businesses operating websites available in the state. The OAG’s announcement is made amid increasing regulatory scrutiny, including by the FTC, as well as increased litigation centered on the use of online tracking technologies.

(more…)

EU Governments Sign-off Proposed Reforms to GDPR Procedural Rules and Council Reaches Common Member States’ Position

On 24 May 2024, the Council of the European Union (the “Council”) released new details of a proposed reform of the General Data Protection Regulation’s (“GDPR”) procedural rules, which representatives of EU national governments approved on 29 May 2024. On 13 June 2024, the Council issued a press release detailing its agreed common Member States’ position that maintains the general thrust of the original proposed reforms, but which seeks to: (i) introduce clearer timelines; (ii) improve efficiency of cooperation; and (iii) provide an early resolution mechanism.

(more…)

UK proposes New Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to Boost the UK’s Cyber Defences

During the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the newly appointed UK Prime Minister announced the UK Government’s intention to introduce a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to strengthen the UK’s defences against the global rise in cyberattacks and to protect the UK’s critical infrastructure. In background briefing notes published together with the King’s Speech, the UK Government stated that the new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will “strengthen our defences and ensure that more essential digital services than ever before are protected.” According to the briefing notes, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill intends to address the concern that the UK has not kept up-to-date with recent legislative advancements made by the EU in the cybersecurity space, resulting in the UK being “comparably more vulnerable.” Although the form of the proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill has yet to be released, the UK Government has indicated that it plans to introduce the bill in the coming months.

(more…)

Important Changes to Malaysia’s Data Protection Laws

In July 2024, Malaysia’s legislative body approved significant changes to the country’s Personal Data Protection Act. The changes have the effect of aligning Malaysia’s personal data protection laws more closely with international data protection laws. The effective date and other implementation guidelines are expected to follow closely.

(more…)

Artificial Intelligence Tops Agenda for Global Competition Authorities: EU, UK, and U.S. Issue Joint Statement

On July 23, 2024, the competition authorities of the EU, the UK, and the U.S. issued a joint statement on competition in generative artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models and AI products (Joint Statement). Since the emergence of generative AI, each of the authorities has been individually ramping up its work in order to understand better the potential risks to competition that AI may pose. The Joint Statement may herald a more joined-up global approach with respect to scrutiny of competition in AI.

(more…)

Section 230’s Original Intent Offers Touchstone for Online Safety

As Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act nears its 30th year since enactment, debate rages on in Congress and in the public as to whether and how it should be changed or perhaps scrapped altogether.

(more…)

Heightened Focus in the EU for the Protection of Minors Online

The protection of minors online continues to be a focus for EU regulators. Following the publication last year by the European Parliament of its guidelines on online age verification methods for children, the European Commission has recently announced it will be holding a dedicated stakeholder workshop in September 2024 to discuss guidelines for age verification and protecting minors. Whilst the issue has been flagged as a priority by the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) and we are seeing an increase in guidelines and (in some cases) laws addressing the issue at a national Member State level, this is also a focus of the new EU Digital Services Act (“DSA”).

(more…)

U.S. Commerce Department Issues First-of-Its-Kind Determination Banning Certain Software Products and Services

On June 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services (OICTS) published a first-of-its-kind Final Determination against Kaspersky Lab, Inc., prohibiting the provision of its antivirus software and cybersecurity products in the United States or to U.S. persons. This Final Determination provides new insights into OICTS review of information and communications technology and services (ICTS) transactions and the prohibitions or restrictions that may result. The full text of the Final Determination is available here. OICTS also provides additional guidance on the new prohibition here.

(more…)

Upcoming Events

Resources

 

SUBSCRIBE

To receive email alerts when we post a blog entry, please provide your name and email address.