On January 14, 2025, the UK government unveiled a proposed framework aimed at combating the rise of ransomware attacks by implementing a payment prevention and reporting regime. This would require companies to not only report all ransomware incidents, but also to declare whether they intend to pay a ransom. The government also announced that it proposes to ban public bodies and infrastructure providers from making ransom payments to cyber attackers. A public consultation is open until April 8, 2025.Continue Reading Ransomware Attacks: UK Government Proposes Ransom Payment Ban and Mandatory Notification Requirements
Nikolaos Theodorakis
The UK’s Online Safety Regime Is Coming into Force: Steps to Take Now
In the last month, Ofcom, the regulator tasked with enforcing the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA), has published guidance enacting requirements under the OSA to carry out illegal harms risk assessments and children’s access assessments. Providers of in-scope services must document an illegal harms risk assessment by March 16, 2025, and a children’s access assessment by April 16, 2025. This alert outlines the steps that in-scope services must take to prepare for these deadlines. For more information on the OSA and its phased implementation, refer to our previous blog post here. Continue Reading The UK’s Online Safety Regime Is Coming into Force: Steps to Take Now
New EU Cyber Resilience Requirements for Financial Sector Enter into Force
As of January 17, 2025, financial entities and their critical information and communication technology (ICT) service providers need to comply with the new cybersecurity requirements in the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). DORA introduces significant operational and ICT security requirements for a wide range of financial market participants, including banks, insurers, trading platforms, as well as for their ICT service providers.Continue Reading New EU Cyber Resilience Requirements for Financial Sector Enter into Force
Preparing for the UK’s New Online Safety Regime: Timeline and Key Phases
The UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) is a landmark law that will require companies to make online services “safe by design” for all individuals, with a particularly high standard of protection required for children. The OSA was enacted in 2023, and its obligations will come into force in phases throughout 2025 and 2026. This blog post explains how the law will be brought into force, and what companies can do to prepare.Continue Reading Preparing for the UK’s New Online Safety Regime: Timeline and Key Phases
UK Brings Forward Bill to Reform UK Privacy Laws
In October 2024, the UK government introduced the Data (Use and Access) Bill (the Data Bill) to Parliament. The Data Bill represents a third attempt by UK ministers to bring about reforms to the UK’s data protection and ePrivacy regimes. If enacted, the Data Bill will introduce changes to the existing regime, including by reducing restrictions on automated decision-making and enhancing powers for the UK’s privacy regulator. It will also lay the groundwork for new “Smart Data” schemes, which will in future require companies operating in certain industries to share data with authorized and regulated third parties.Continue Reading UK Brings Forward Bill to Reform UK Privacy Laws
Updated: 10 Things You Should Know About the EU Artificial Intelligence Act
The Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) is the first comprehensive legislation that intends to regulate AI horizontally across all sectors in Europe. It will have far reaching consequences on all companies developing, implementing, or using AI solutions in the EU and beyond. These FAQs provide key information you should know before the AI Act is adopted, and some tips on what you can already be doing to prepare. To learn more, click here to read Wilson Sonsini’s updated FAQs.”Continue Reading Updated: 10 Things You Should Know About the EU Artificial Intelligence Act
UK Privacy Regulator Details Next Stages of Its Strategy to Protect Children Online
On April 3, 2024, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) released a statement setting out its priorities for protecting children’s privacy online. The priorities reflect the ICO’s strategy for the next phase of implementing its Children’s code of practice (also known as the “AADC”) and signal a focus by the regulator on the operations of social media and video-sharing platforms (platforms). The ICO will look at platforms’ default settings for children’s profiles, recommender systems and how they obtain consent to the processing of children’s data. The statement also indicates that the ICO will conduct audits of EdTech providers to identify privacy risks and potential noncompliance with applicable legislation.Continue Reading UK Privacy Regulator Details Next Stages of Its Strategy to Protect Children Online