Kathy Harford, Author at Connect On Tech

In Cybersecurity

Is Europe ready for NIS2?

The deadline for Member State implementation of NIS2 is less than a month away, but the majority of Member States we surveyed are likely to miss this deadline. This raises practical compliance challenges for multinationals in Europe, but there are concrete steps organisations can and should take now to prepare. NIS2 repeals and replaces the NIS Directive and harmonizes the EU’s existing cybersecurity framework. It imposes more onerous cybersecurity obligations on entities in a wider…

In AI Act

EU AI Act Published: Dates for Action

July 12, 2024 by Ben Allgrove, Vinod Bange, Karen Battersby, Helen Davenport, Elisabeth Dehareng, Cristina Duch, Dr Lukas Feiler, Francesca Gaudino, Kathy Harford, Megan McGleenon, Sue McLean, Jose María Méndez, Prof. Dr. Michael Schmidl, Eva-Maria Strobel and Florian Tannen 4 Mins Read

In Brief The long-awaited EU AI Act was published in the Official Journal of the European Union today, 12 July 2024. The Act regulates activities across the AI lifecycle, as covered in more detail in our previous post, and the countdown for implementation has now started for companies developing or deploying AI technologies, with the Act entering into force 20 days after its publication on 1 August 2024. The Act as a whole is generally…

In Artificial Intelligence

EU AI Act finally adopted: what’s next?

March 13, 2024 by Kathy Harford, Karen Battersby, Elisabeth Dehareng, Dr Lukas Feiler, Jose María Méndez, Vinod Bange, Francesca Gaudino, Florian Tannen, Prof. Dr. Michael Schmidl, Ben Allgrove, Kate Alexander, Cristina Duch and Sue McLean 7 Mins Read

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…

In Artificial Intelligence

UK Government confirms principles-based approach to regulating AI

February 13, 2024 by Sue McLean, Karen Battersby, Vinod Bange, Jessica Steele and Kathy Harford 8 Mins Read

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…

In Artificial Intelligence

Is the EU AI Act nearing the finish line?

February 5, 2024 by Vinod Bange, Karen Battersby, Elisabeth Dehareng, Julia Dickenson, Dr Lukas Feiler, Francesca Gaudino, Kathy Harford, Sue McLean, Jose María Méndez, Eva-Maria Strobel, Florian Tannen and Anahita Thoms 4 Mins Read

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…

In Data Privacy

Getting ready for the EU Data Act

January 8, 2024 by Michaela Nebel, Magalie Dansac Le Clerc, Florian Tannen, Elisabeth Dehareng, Prof. Dr. Michael Schmidl, Dr Lukas Feiler, Vinod Bange, Jose María Méndez, Pablo Uslé, Patricia Pérez, David Molina, Francesca Gaudino and Kathy Harford 6 Mins Read

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…

In Artificial Intelligence

EU reaches agreement on landmark AI regulation

December 11, 2023 by Ben Allgrove, Vinod Bange, Karen Battersby, Elisabeth Dehareng, Dr Lukas Feiler, Francesca Gaudino, Kathy Harford, Sue McLean, Chema Mendez, Eva-Maria Strobel and Florian Tannen 6 Mins Read

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…

In Digital Media & Content

The Digital Services Act: what is changing in the world of tech?

October 19, 2023 by Kathy Harford, John Groom, Ben Allgrove, Helen Brown, Julia Hemmings and Josh Boyden 2 Mins Read

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…

In Artificial Intelligence

What’s next for the EU AI Act?

June 22, 2023 by Eva-Maria Strobel, Jaspreet Takhar and Kathy Harford 3 Mins Read

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.

In Digital Media & Content

Get Ready for the New Deal: Consumer Rights Enhanced by the Omnibus Directive

January 17, 2020 by Helen Brown, Julia Hemmings and Kathy Harford 4 Mins Read

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…