Westminster eForum

This seminar focused on competition regulation in the digital economy.

It took place as the Government considered its response to the publication of the Furman Review, the Digital Competition Expert Panel set up to consider the way forward for putting the UK’s digital economy - including its range of sectors and service types - on a sustainable long-term footing with respect to competition.

Sessions considered the need, and options, for intervention by regulators and policymakers - and the impact on service providers, social media sites, streaming and content hosting platforms, their partners and customers, and other stakeholders.

Taking place following the publication of the Smart Data Review, which confirmed the Government’s intention to take forward the Furman Review’s recommendation of a new digital markets unit, delegates discussed what remit the unit should have and the approach it should take to promoting competition in the digital economy - as well as its regulatory powers.

Further sessions included discussion on M&A activity in the digital economy, looking at whether a new regulatory approach is required - following the publication of CMA’s Digital Markets Strategy and following a ministerial speech about competition rules which outlined the case for reform so as to prevent potential new forms of consumer harm.

Delegates assessed the extent to which promoting innovation and consumer benefit should be considered by the CMA as factors in whether to accept or reject a merger application - as well as examining the Review’s proposed ‘balance of harms’ consideration, which would allow the CMA to take into account the scale and probability of potential harms resulting from merger cases in making its assessment.

The agenda also looked at the digital advertising market. The discussion took place in the context of the recommendations contained in the Cairncross Review, as well as the CMA’s digital advertising market study. Delegates considered issues around whether that market is overly dominated by a small number of companies and publisher remuneration for advertising displayed next to their content.

Further sessions focused on developing international regulatory collaboration on the question of competition in digital markets. Delegates examined how regulators might work in a more standardised and joined-up fashion across national borders, in order to monitor anti-competitive practices and scrutinise cross-border mergers.

This seminar discussed the next steps for telecoms infrastructure in the UK - looking at key issues around competition, network investment and achieving full fibre coverage.

The conference examined priorities for future investment in telecoms infrastructure and followed the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review and interim government response to the NIC’s National Infrastructure Assessment, which set out priorities for the development of the UK’s digital infrastructure including full fibre and 5G rollout.

Policymakers and industry stakeholders assessed the progress towards fulfilling the Universal Service Obligation - including the impact of programmes such as the Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme and Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund - and key issues for competition policy, the structure of the telecommunications market and enhancing consumer experience.

Sessions further examined the future for the regulatory framework - following the public consultation on the Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom, and as Ofcom outlined its Annual Plan for 2019/20. Delegates also considered what more might be needed to encourage long-term investment, reduce deployment costs and increase the extent of infrastructure sharing across the sector.

This conference discussed a range of new government policy initiatives aimed at harnessing technological innovation to drive social change for good - and examined the implications for charities, social enterprises and the private sector.

In the context of aspirations set out in the Civil Society Strategy, discussion took place on ways in which charities and social enterprises can better engage with, and make use of, digital technology, as well as priorities for supporting social tech start-ups and scale-ups.

The agenda brought out latest thinking on the potential impact that new technologies can have on tackling complex social issues - looking at case studies from the UK and abroad of the deployment of advanced tech for good causes, examining outcomes and assessing the way forward.

There was also discussion on the scope for involvement of private business - as well as ways in which it can be made easier for ventures in the social tech sector to bid for and win contracts in the public sector.

Delegates considered how best to promote continued innovation in social tech organisations, and what more needs to be done to ensure they have sufficient access to finance, investment and business development resources, following the announcement of a new fund for social tech ventures supported by the Government and the Social Tech Trust.

There was also further discussion on key priorities for driving and enabling the uptake of technologies such as AI and digital fundraising tools by charities at varying scales - including developing digital skills within third sector organisations, promoting good governance and best practice in data handling, and examining ways in which tech solutions can be matched to charities’ scale and requirements.

This conference considered next steps for the UK drones sector, looking at what is needed from policy and regulation to promote public trust in the use of drones, as well as supporting innovation and growth.

Following high-profile disruption at a number of airports resulting from drone misuse - and in the context of the Government’s announcement of an expansion of drone ‘no-fly-zones’ around airports - it was an opportunity to discuss key priorities for enhancing standards of safety and public trust, whilst also driving continued development in the UK’s drones sector.

It took place following the publication of the Government’s response to its consultation on drone safety and enforcement policy, as well as in the context of the anticipated publication of the draft Drones Bill.

Further discussion focused on key priorities for developing and streamlining regulatory processes to enable the routine conduct of fully-autonomous drone operations. Delegates also considered the future international regulatory environment - in the context of development of regulation by EASA and the publication of a draft set of international drone standards by the ISO.

It took place as the CAA prepared to introduce a new registration system for drone operators, and following the award of up to £1m from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to the CAA.

Discussion also took place on potential future developments in capability, new use cases, and the resulting regulatory and technical challenges - including facilitating Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight (BVLOS) operations on a routine basis, as well as enabling fully autonomous flight in densely populated airspaces such as major cities.

This conference considered priorities for developing the Government’s National Data Strategy, looking at recent policy developments in this area in the UK and more widely.

Delegates considered key emerging areas of focus for the Strategy, as well as wider issues around the use of consumer and personal data in the digital economy.

The seminar took place in the context of Government’s overarching policy aim of achieving a balance between support for innovation in data usage and addressing concerns around security, privacy, consent and liability, with further relevant policy developments including the Smart Data Review and the establishment of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.

Discussion examined next steps for developing and putting into place sustainable best practice for businesses, charities and the public sector in the handling and protection of data.

There was also discussion on next steps for driving investment and innovation in data-driven technologies such as AI, as well as the way forward for building public trust and confidence for rolling out these technologies across a range of sectors.

This seminar examined priorities and options for the regulation of the internet - focusing on UK policy and industry practice, and the international dimension.

It took place as the Government prepared to publish the joint DCMS-Home Office Internet Safety Strategy White Paper, and in the context of wider work taking place under the broader Digital Charter - as well as the publication of the Cairncross Review, which includes recommendations for new obligations on large online platforms with respect to news content.

Discussion focused on what any future regulation might look like, and what more can be done to regulate harmful online content whilst protecting freedom of expression.

Delegates also considered key practical questions around the identification and tracking of harmful content, and removal and takedown processes - as well as the roles and responsibilities of governments, regulators and enforcement agencies, technology and infrastructure providers, and internet businesses and services along with their customers and audiences.

Taking place following the Government’s announcement that it will extend online age-verification to social media sites, sessions also considered key challenges for its implementation, and the range of impacts for businesses and service users. They also examined more broadly the range of proposed measures on social media, including new codes of practice and more stringent transparency standards.

Discussion also considered the progress of existing industry-led solutions and initiatives, and what difficulties have been encountered - including issues around measurement and identification, developing a standardised approach across the industry - and potential next steps for further intervention.

Informed by the Lords Communications Committee inquiry on regulation of the internet, and developments in Europe - as well as reflecting developments in the United States and more widely - delegates assessed options for international collaboration, oversight, enforcement and education.