On 20 November 2023, the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Bill (DMCC) cleared the report stage and an expedited third reading in the House of Commons, at which a series of significant amendments were passed.
UK CMA Publishes Green Agreements Guidance
On 12 October 2023, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published new Green Agreements Guidance on the application of the Chapter I prohibition in the Competition Act 1998 to environmental sustainability agreements (the Guidance).
CMA Publishes Initial Report on AI Foundation Models and Guiding Principles for Firms
On September 18, 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) published an initial report on AI foundation models (“FMs”).
EC designates the first set of Gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a landmark piece of legislation granting unprecedented powers to the European Commission to regulate large digital platforms. The DMA targets platforms that operate as gatekeepers between businesses and users, hold an “entrenched and durable position,” and operate one or more core platform services (CPSs).
CMA lays out approach to UK Government’s proposed AI principles
The explosion in the development of generative AI has been referred to as an “Oppenheimer” moment. Just last week, a group of more than 350 executives and scientists jointly stated that “[m]itigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” And more than 1,000 tech leaders have called for a moratorium on AI development until regulations governing its safe use are devised.
UK Government Publishes Landmark Bill Introducing Digital Markets Regulatory Regime and Competition and Consumer Law Reforms
The UK Government has published its long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, including a wide-ranging and far-reaching set of reforms to UK competition and consumer law, along with a new regulatory regime for digital markets.
UK Government Prefers ‘Context-specific Guidance’ Instead of Formal New Regulation for Artificial Intelligence Technology
Rapidly emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technology is poised to transform how businesses operate across almost all sectors, from social media to education to healthcare. Globally, governments and regulators are starting to react to the potential risks, but also opportunities, that AI and machine learning models can bring. Earlier this month, data protection authorities in Italy, Canada and South Korea have opened a series of investigations into data privacy issues related to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, with the Italian agency temporarily banning the use of ChatGPT in the country.
2023 Update: U.S. Antitrust Sets Sail into Uncharted Seas
Last year we noted that U.S. antitrust enforcement was in a period of nearly unprecedented public attention and policy debate, and also that the Biden Administration seemed likely to launch significant new policy initiatives as the year progressed.
General Court Partially Annuls European Commission Decision in Google Android
In September 2022, the General Court partially annulled the European Commission’s 2018 Google Android decision, which fined Google €4.3 billion for abuses of dominance relating to apps it offers for its Android mobile operating system (“OS”).[1] The Court also found that the Commission’s investigation suffered from procedural errors. It reduced the fine by €200 million.
EU Digital Markets Act Published in the EU’s Official Journal
On October 12, 2022, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This is the last step in the almost two-year long journey since the publication of the Commission’s initial proposal in December 2020.[1]