The Technology Platform

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published draft guidance for businesses making 'green' claims about their products. The guidance follows an analysis of websites carried out by the CMA alongside other national competition authorities that found that 40% of 'green' claims made online could be misleading.

On 18 May 2021, the Government published its response following its consultation on the National Data Strategy launched in September 2020. With a foreword referring to 'data as the great opportunity of our time', and stressing the need to 'rebalance' the data narrative from one focused on risks and on privacy, to one that 'unleashes the power of data' across the UK economy and society, the Government outlines a number of 'missions' and objectives for creating an environment of data-led innovation.

The UK Government has published a first draft of the long-awaited Online Safety Bill. The draft Bill is substantial and complex, and will need careful scrutiny in order to analyse its full implications. However, it is already apparent that it could have wide-reaching and potentially serious consequences for a broad spectrum of businesses in its scope, if implemented in its current form.

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has adopted finalised Guidelines 8/2020 on the targeting of social media users under GDPR, following public consultation.

Whilst its focus is on the terms of online betting companies, the much publicised case of Green v Betfred is a valuable reminder for all companies contracting with consumers of the correct approach to drafting consumer terms.

The UKIPO has published the Government's response following its 2020 call for views on the interplay between intellectual property rights and artificial intelligence.

TuneIn Radio has substantially lost its appeal against a finding that its radio streaming service infringed copyrights owned by Warner Music and Sony, when its UK listeners streamed foreign radio stations.

Inventive and innovative private enterprise has driven the digital technology revolution.

Esports, the professional competition of playing of video games, is no longer a niche phenomenon. With an estimated $950m in revenue in 2020, esports is often touted as a billion dollar industry. Forbes now releases an annual rich list of the world's most valuable esports teams.

Personalised beauty has transformed in recent years as consumers want products tailored towards their individual needs – much like in nutrition and fitness. This trend has only been accelerated by the pandemic, with "try before you buy" no longer an option.