The EU AI Act was adopted by the European Parliament today and is expected to enter into force within a few months, with its first substantive provisions taking effect before the end of 2024. The EU AI Act applies across the AI lifecycle – from developers to deployers of AI technologies – and organisations across industries have been watching its progress closely. Now that it is finally approved, we set out below what’s next, and…
The UK government has published its long-waited response to the AI White Paper, “A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation” published back in March 2023. Here’s what you need to know. 1. Endorsement of principles-based approach The UK is sticking with its principles-based regulatory framework for AI, continuing to take a very different path to its EU neighbours (as discussed in our previous alert). Unlike the EU there will be no new AI regulator, new legislation…
A key step towards adoption of the EU AI Act was reached last Friday as the draft text received unanimous approval from the European Council’s main preparatory body. There are further votes to follow before the Act is adopted, but it’s looking likely that the final vote will take place in April and some substantive provisions of the Act could be in force soon after that, possibly by the end of the year. We set…
On December 22, 2023 the EU Regulation on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data, also known as the Data Act, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication, namely on January 11, 2024, and become applicable on September 12, 2025. The Data Act affects manufacturers of connected products and also providers of related services, including virtual…
Late in the evening on Friday 8 December in Brussels was a historic moment for AI regulation in Europe. After three days of extensive final debate the EU Parliament, Council and Commission finally announced provisional agreement on the EU AI Act, the bloc’s landmark legislation regulating development and use of AI in Europe. It is one of the world’s first comprehensive attempts to regulate the use of AI. The EU AI Act awaits formal adoption…
The Digital Services Act (DSA) imposes wide-ranging and transformative obligations on online intermediaries and platforms. As has been well-publicised over the last few months, the most onerous obligations, and tighter deadlines for compliance, fall on services designated by the Commission as very large online platforms (VLOPs) or very large online search engines (VLOSEs). However, all online platforms and online search engines were required to publish information on their user figures earlier this year, and all…
The proposed EU AI Act cleared an important hurdle last week, following the approval of the negotiating draft by MEPs on 14 June. The trilogue will now get underway – this is the three-way discussion between the European Parliament, Commission and Council – and we set out below some key takeaways from the recent vote. The Act could in theory be adopted in early 2024 and in force by 2026. If negotiations go smoothly (and…
A key part of the EU’s New Deal for Consumers entered into force on January 7, 2020: the Omnibus Directive, which strengthens consumer rights through enhanced enforcement measures and increased transparency requirements. The headline changes introduced by the new Directive are: GDPR-style penalties.A requirement for increased transparency online, in particular for search result rankings and personalized pricing.The extension of consumer rights to “free” digital content and services. EU Member States have two years to transpose…
An expert legal statement was published by the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT, a taskforce of the UK’s Lawtech Delivery Panel) on recognising cryptoassets as property and smart contracts as enforceable agreements under English law. The two key takeaways: In principle, cryptoassets are to be treated as property under English law.A smart contract is capable of having contractual force. For more details, read the full article on Baker McKenzie’s dedicated blockchain blog.