On February 2, 2024, a committee of ambassadors from all countries of the European Union (EU) approved the latest draft of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA or the Act). Following weeks of speculation that there could be a blocking minority of EU countries who had concerns about the final text, this vote confirms that the AIA has substantial support within the Council of the EU (Council). This means that the AIA has a good chance to become law within the coming months. For more information about the scope and requirements in the AIA, please see our client alert on last December’s political agreement on the AI Act, available here.Continue Reading The AI Act Just Got One Step Closer to Becoming Law
privacy
10 Privacy Predictions in the EU for 2024
In 2024, businesses will continue to face an evolving landscape of privacy opportunities and challenges, including an increasingly complex data regulatory environment that extends beyond the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). With heightened scrutiny from regulators, consumers, and investors, the need to bolster privacy and data management practices has become even more important. Here’s our top 10 list of what to watch for in the privacy and data regulatory space in 2024:Continue Reading 10 Privacy Predictions in the EU for 2024
U.S. Privacy Predictions: What to Watch for in 2024
2023 was one of the busiest years for privacy yet—with more to come in 2024. Five new U.S. state privacy laws (in Texas, Florida, Oregon, Montana, and Washington) will come into effect in 2024. And federal and state regulators are sure to focus on hot areas like artificial intelligence, children’s privacy, and the collection, use, and sharing of consumer health data, among others. Given this backdrop, here are our top 10 predictions for privacy regulation in 2024:Continue Reading U.S. Privacy Predictions: What to Watch for in 2024
FTC Proposes Significant Changes to COPPA Rule
On December 20, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced proposed changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA Rule) that would place significant new restrictions on companies that collect personal information from children under 13.Continue Reading FTC Proposes Significant Changes to COPPA Rule
EU Lawmakers Reach Political Agreement on the AI Act
On December 8, 2023, the EU finally agreed on the world’s first comprehensive legal framework on AI: the AI Act. EU lawmakers reached a political agreement on a series of controversial issues after record-long negotiations. They are expected to formally adopt the agreed text within the next couple of months. If adopted, the AI Act will ban certain AI systems, regulate general purpose AI (GPAI), impose heavy obligations on high-risk AI systems, subject to high fines, and support innovation through regulatory “sandboxes.” The AI Act will have an extraterritorial reach. Being the first law of its kind globally, the AI Act has the potential to establish a benchmark for AI regulation in other regions, just as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has accomplished.Continue Reading EU Lawmakers Reach Political Agreement on the AI Act
Weaponization of Data Subject Access Requests in the EU
Individuals are increasingly making use of their right to access their personal data under applicable privacy laws in the EU.
It can be a challenge for companies to handle such requests, and in particular, if a request concerns a complex data set, there are a high number of requests, or the right is exercised for strategic reasons, such as in HR or legal disputes. The right of access is, however, not absolute, and its restrictions vary across Member States, adding further complexity to the matter. How to handle such requests and apply these restrictions is commonly set out in internal policies and procedures. We set out below the current landscape as well as a recent enforcement trend.Continue Reading Weaponization of Data Subject Access Requests in the EU