The Committee for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport of the UK Parliament (DCMS Committee) has now completed its inquiry into Fake News, which lasted throughout 2018. The inquiry started as an investigation on the spread of disinformation and its role in influencing elections, and soon turned to the link between tech companies’ practices and the protection of citizens’ personal data.
Antitrust is the latest headache for Facebook and Big Tech
Recent cases have seen competition regulators intervening against tech giants, Facebook in particular. The most recent is a ruling in Germany, where the competition watchdog did not issue a fine, but instead ordered Facebook to stop practices which are a key part of the company’s business model. This, alongside other ongoing cases, could be a signal of a new regulatory trend.
Australia proposes comprehensive regulation of online platforms
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a preliminary report as part of its inquiry on digital platforms, which started at the end of 2017. The report carries 11 recommendations, and identifies nine areas for further investigation, which will likely be tackled in more detail by the final report to be published by June 2019.
Apple’s Tim Cook says regulation of big tech is inevitable, but what it will look like?
The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, made the headlines with his recent interview in which he called regulation of tech companies “inevitable”, and concluded that the free market has failed to deliver. His prediction is likely to be accurate, as policymakers increasingly see cases for intervention with regard to data protection and disinformation.
EU Council at a standstill over Digital Taxation and e-Privacy
On 4 December 2018, ministers of EU member states gathered in the respective groups of the European Council, to discuss two proposals on a Digital Service Tax and on the e-Privacy regulation. On both issues, EU countries are still clearly divided, and are failing to make significant progress.
Summary of the global inquiries into the spread of misinformation (and data privacy)
This note will be updated as and when witnesses appear in front of various committees that are addressing the topic of misinformation and the use of personal data.
Facebook should let Nick Clegg influence things in two ways
Today is the first day for former UK Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, as Facebook’s new head of global policy and communications. The move inevitably triggered contrasting reactions, but signals Facebook’s willingness to engage with institutions more constructively in the future.
The debate on privacy regulation in the US has unequivocally begun
On 26 September 2018, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee of the US Senate hosted a hearing with representatives of ISPs (AT&T, Spectrum) and tech companies (Amazon, Apple, Google, Twitter). The hearing examined privacy policies of those companies and reviewed the current state of consumer data privacy regulation in the US.
Tech companies face greater scrutiny under EU Consumer Protection rules
The EC Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jourova, has made statements welcoming Airbnb’s effort to comply with EU consumer protection rules, particularly on the front of price transparency and recognition of users’ rights. Jourova also took the chance to criticise Facebook and Twitter, which are yet to implement some changes requested by the EC earlier this year.
Amendments to the EC Copyright Directive will not end controversy
On 12 September 2018, the EU Parliament has passed its negotiating position on the proposal for a New Copyright Directive. The new text follows the demise of the initial one in July, and means the trialogue negotiations between Parliament, Council, and Commission can now begin.
