Top in Tech

Top in Tech is going weekly! In each episode, we'll be covering the week's biggest tech policy story with an expert from our GC team. We'll also continue to host thought leaders and industry experts for monthly in-depth conversations about the future of tech regulation.

This week, Senior Practice Director Conan D'Arcy is joined by Senior Associate Poppy Woodcock to unpack UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to create a standalone science, innovation and technology department as part of a broader government restructure. Critics have dismissed the reforms as technocratic meddling, but could this more focused technology department energise the UK's tech regulation efforts?

Conan and Poppy discuss how the restructure will impact existing policy proposals, the Tory ministers who will shape the new departments, and how Labour may respond both in their shadow cabinet and in a potential future government.

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

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Top in Tech is going weekly! In each episode, we'll be covering the week's biggest tech policy story with an expert from our GC team. We'll also continue to host thought leaders and industry experts for monthly in-depth conversations about the future of tech regulation.

To kick us off, Senior Practice Director Conan D'Arcy is joined by Senior Associate Ugonma Nwankwo to look at a US court's decision allowing Meta to acquire fitness VR startup Within. The FTC alleged that Meta's purchase would give it an unfair advantage in the burgeoning metaverse ecosystem, an argument strongly reminiscent of what critics levied against the social media giant after it had purchased Whatsapp and Instagram. The decision is a loss for the FTC under Chairwoman Lina Khan, who has led the agency to adopt a more creative approach to antitrust and competition law.

Conan and Ugonma discuss what the decision means for Meta, how the loss may impact the FTC's agenda, and what this all means for the next big tech deal on the horizon: Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

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This week on Top in Tech, Conan D'Arcy speaks to Leo Ringer, Founding Partner at Form Ventures. They discuss the state of the UK tech startup scene, how it compares to other countries and Form Venture's contributions to Atomico's State of European Tech Report.

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Top in Tech, Conan D'Arcy is joined by Michelle Ryang to hear about what she saw at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. What does the biggest show in tech tell us about the new trends emerging in 2023 and how are US companies reacting to newfound regulatory scrutiny? Bart Myners also joins to unpack changes to the UK's Media Bill and its proposals to regulate video streaming services. What happened to Channel privatisation and when might we see the Bill finally pass?

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

This year, Global Counsel's flagship policy conference is exploring the Politics of Food. Events throughout the month of January will offer a chance to debate and discuss the technological, regulatory and geopolitical challenges testing food systems around the world in 2023. You can register and learn more about the programme by clicking this link.

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The ‘metaverse’ term was coined thirty years ago, and until recently was part science fiction, part speculation. But with Facebook’s rebranding as Meta last year, an increasing consumer acceptance of virtual interactions post-Covid, and a steady uptick of interest from new sectors (ranging from retail to public services), the metaverse suddenly seems very real. Against this backdrop, questions inevitably arise about its benefits versus causes for concern, and how these ought to be managed.

Global Counsel has produced an original report on public attitudes to the metaverse, including representative polling, as well as interviews with thought leaders, across the US, UK and France. Today, Senior Practice Director Conan D'Arcy is joined by two leaders on the project, Head of Research and Insight Raphael Malek and Associate Director Megan Stagman, to talk through the report's findings and methodology.

You can the full report by clicking here.

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Today on the podcast, Conan D'Arcy talks to Elizabeth Denham, the former UK Information Commissioner at the ICO and current International Adviser at Baker McKenzie. They talk through the past and future of UK data privacy, Elizabeth's time at the ICO, and how the UK policy stance compares to the US and EU.

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

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This week on Top in Tech, Conan D'Arcy is joined by Senior Associate Ugonma Nwankwo to check in on the policy implications of the US midterms and Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter. Then, we survey Southeast Asia's growing tech sector with Senior Associate Nicholas Lee.

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

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Last week, we hosted an event in central London presenting the initial findings of our new report on public attitudes to the metaverse and its regulation. 

Today, we're presenting a recording from the event: Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes joined GC Chairman Peter Mandelson for a discussion on the role of regulators in online safety and emerging technologies like the metaverse.

Stay tuned for the release of the full report on November 23rd!

'Top in Tech' is a production of Global Counsel, a strategic advisory business headquartered in London with offices across the world. We help companies and investors manage risk and see opportunities in politics, regulation and public policy. To learn more about our work, please visit our website by clicking here.

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Conan D'Arcy is joined by Associate Theresa Duemchen and Senior Associate Jack Keevil to discuss Russian use of cyberwarfare against Ukraine and new legislation regulating media organisations in the EU.

'Top in Tech' is a production of Global Counsel, a strategic advisory business headquartered in London with offices across the world. We help companies and investors manage risk and see opportunities in politics, regulation and public policy. To learn more about our work, please visit our website by clicking here.

If you or your business is impacted by the trends in this conversation, you can reach out to our TMT team by clicking here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.