Westminster eForum

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

In the context of aspirations set out in the Civil Society Strategy, we expect discussion 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 will bring 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 will also be discussion on the scope for the 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 will also consider 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 recent announcement of a new fund for social tech ventures supported by the Government and the Social Tech Trust.

There will be 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 timely conference will consider 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 the recent high-profile disruption at a number of airports resulting from drone misuse, and in the context of the Government’s recent announcement of an expansion of drone ‘no-fly-zones’ around airports, coming into force in March, the seminar will be 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 takes place following the recent publication of the Government’s response to its consultation on drone safety and enforcement policy, as well as in the context of the upcoming publication of the draft Drones Bill.

Further discussion will focus on key priorities for developing and streamlining regulatory processes to enable the routine conduct of fully-autonomous drone operations.

It comes as the CAA prepares 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.

Delegates will also consider the future international regulatory environment and the implications for the UK - in the context of development of regulation by EASA with an emphasis of safety, innovation and support for growth, and the recent publication of a draft set of international drone standards by the ISO.

We also expect discussion 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 timely conference will consider priorities for the Government’s upcoming National Data Strategy, looking at recent policy developments in this area in the UK and more widely.

Delegates will consider 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.

This seminar takes 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 new Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.

Discussion will examine 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.

We also expect 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 as they are rolled out across a range of sectors and use cases.

This timely conference will examine next steps for developing ‘smart city’ solutions that address local needs - taking account of local strategic and user priorities, relationships between local government commissioning and the supply chain, and developing standards and learning from best practice.

It takes place in the context of an investment and policy focus on digital infrastructure and its role in economic growth - including support for future investment in 5G technology following the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, the development of a National Geospatial Strategy with a focus on how geospatial data can be used to transform public services and support the UK’s productivity, and the Mayor of London’s Smarter London Together plan to position London at forefront of intelligent innovation.

It also take place in light of the Government’s drive to coordinate initiatives for improving wellbeing and tackling social issues such as loneliness, supporting mental and physical health, and incentivising environmental stewardship.

Delegates will discuss latest thinking on smart cities design and delivery - including how cities might more effectively articulate their needs to the supply chain, addressing sustainability issues, understanding and incorporating innovation in applications and issues around open data, data management and analysis.

They will also consider what lessons can be learnt from existing smart cities around collaboration, funding, and citizen and stakeholder engagement, as well as examine priorities for the creation and adoption of standards to enable the roll-out of smart cities across the UK, focusing on interoperability and system integration, sustainability and best practice.

The agenda also looks at what is needed in policy development, regulation and leadership, including around investment, addressing procurement issues, improving access to data and supporting collaboration.

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

It takes place in the context of the upcoming joint DCMS-Home Office Internet Safety Strategy White Paper, and with 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.

We expect discussion 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 will also consider key practical questions around the identification and tracking of harmful content, and the 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.

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

Discussion will also consider progress so far in 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 recent Lords Communications Committee The Internet: to regulate or not to regulate? Inquiry, and developments in Europe including the Commission’s proposed legislation around extremist content - as well as reflecting developments in the United States and more widely - delegates will also assess options for international collaboration, oversight and enforcement - as well as challenges around education and digital skills.

This conference will bring together policymakers, regulators and stakeholders to consider the next steps for the development of the UK mobile market.

The seminar takes place as the Government consults on its Statement of Strategic Priorities - following the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review last year - which would require Ofcom to take account of priorities such as improving mobile coverage in rural areas and major roads, tackling the ‘loyalty penalty’, considering options to introduce mobile roaming in rural areas, and supporting investment in reliable, fast broadband.

In the context of the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, delegates will discuss the optimal shape of the policy and regulatory framework to support competition, the achievement of coverage targets, sector confidence and investment, and the development of 5G technologies and networks.

They will assess developing market dynamics and what they mean for individual players in the industry, their customers and overall sector growth - looking at M&A and consolidation, developments in services and devices, convergence and access to infrastructure, priorities for attracting and directing investment, opportunities for collaboration, and the scope for trans-border networks.

Attendees will also discuss the practicalities of putting 5G into practice - examining what has been learnt from the testbeds and trials programme and looking at issues for wider rollout - including planning, licensing and engineering challenges, funding, and building public and private partnerships.

Further sessions will bring out latest thinking on demand for 5G - including services needed by consumers and businesses, how best to meet increasing demands on data networks and for online services, and analysing the potential of applications across public and private services for providing cost-effective services, to drive productivity and efficiency. 

This conference examined the experience of regulators and industry since the implementation of GDPR - including lessons learnt, and the implications for business practice and the regulatory framework going forward.

Discussion focused on the impact of the new regulatory framework - with its emphasis on transparency and accountability - on organisational practice and individual citizens, and on the relationships between businesses and consumers, as well as new thinking on strategies and best practice for data processing.

Sessions brought out case studies from the regulatory process in practice, highlighted uncertainties and anomalies, considered examples of intervention or enforcement, and assessed further areas for regulatory adjustment and development.

There was also discussion reflecting the international perspective, including the future of co-operation between data protection authorities in the UK and the EU and of alignment with EU data protection standards.

This timely conference considered developments in the monetisation of digital content including latest thinking on trends, challenges and strategies - and options for policy and industry in developing fair and sustainable systems of value exchange.

Delegates discussed latest industry practice in content monetisation - including strategic approaches across sectors and genres and the factors underlying them - as well as developments in collaboration and competition, and the impact on content creators, consumers and audiences.

Taking place in the context of the European Parliament vote to approve the proposed Copyright Directive, as well as further policy developments in the UK and internationally, sessions focused on the implications for platforms and publishers, and the future for value exchange and remuneration for creators and IP owners - as well as further options for intervention.

Areas for discussion included:

• Learning from advertising-based, subscription and hybrid monetisation models being pursued across sectors, platforms and categories of content;
• Developments in policy around copyright, data usage and protection;
• Emerging collaborative models and the future of value exchange between online platforms and creators;
• Latest thinking on regulation and policy in the UK, across Europe and more widely; and
• The particular challenges facing the news media industry, in the context of the government’s review on the sustainability of local media.

This timely seminar brought together key policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the next steps in the UK’s AI policy.

It took place in the context of the Government’s ambition for the UK to be a world leader on AI, and plans for investment in skills, infrastructure and research, as well as new finance for start-ups and scale-ups, as well as support for creating ‘clusters’ of AI-focused businesses across the country outlined in the AI Sector Deal, and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Grand Challenge in the Industrial Strategy.

Areas of discussion included:

• Research and innovation - opportunities and practical next steps for the Government, research councils, universities and businesses to collaborate;
• Infrastructure - developing data infrastructure, the Government’s proposals for ‘Data Trusts’, and 5G, fibre broadband and shared access to ‘supercomputer’ facilities;
• Investment - priorities for business and the Government in encouraging private patient capital and other forms of support for start-ups and AI ‘clusters’;
• Ethics - latest thinking on designing and regulating a fit-for-purpose ethical framework for the use of AI and the data upon which it relies; and
• - the likely impact of the new AI Masters programmes and AI Centres for Doctoral Training, emanating from the Sector Deal, and preparing the current and future workforce for an increasingly-automated world.

This timely seminar considered the future for how data is used in the digital economy, in the context of the UK government and the EU developing major policies on consumer protection and privacy.

It was set against the backdrop of major developments in UK policy, including the new Digital Services Tax as well as the Smart Data review and the announcement of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.

It also took place in the context of further policy developments in the UK and across Europe - including a call for evidence from an independent panel appointed to examine competition in the UK Digital Economy, the ongoing implementation of GDPR, and with the EU moving forward with the ePrivacy Regulation.

Following the announcement of the CMA’s investigation into the ‘loyalty penalty’ super-complaint brought by Citizen’s Advice, and research on consumer targeting through personalised pricing and search results commissioned jointly by BEIS and the CMA, discussion brought out latest thinking on consumer protection in relation to data, and how businesses can best navigate the fast-evolving regulatory landscape and develop sustainable models for best practice.

Delegates also considered the latest developments and innovations in the treatment, handling and utilisation of data - looking at the future for digital marketing, AI, data analytics, and the personalisation of online offers and search engine results.