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Top in Tech

Author: Global Counsel

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‘Top in tech’ is brought to you by the Global Counsel tech policy team. Each fortnight, the team lift the lid on the latest in ‘techlash’, identifying where the debate is heading in London, Brussels, and Washington DC, the politics (and geopolitics) behind it, and what this might mean for the apps and online services we use every day.

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

118 Episodes
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In this episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli, Practice Director, and Tom Doherty, UK Director, unpack the recent UK cabinet reshuffle and its implications for the technology sector. They explore how new ministerial appointments could shift the direction of technology policy, the anticipated timelines for upcoming legislation such as the Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill, and the UK government’s evolving stance on AI regulation, digital sovereignty, and tech innovation. The conversation also delves into the geopolitical context, including the UK’s relationships with the EU and the US, and what these dynamics mean for businesses navigating the changing regulatory environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week's episode of Top in Tech, Megan Stagman, Director for TMT, and Sourav Bhowmick, Director in Washington DC, deep dive into the newly published AI Action Plan from the Trump administration. They unpack the key components of the plan, and its associated Executive Orders, including its focus on shifting away from the flurry of recent state-level legislation on AI, the emphasis on preventing 'woke AI' and the long-term implications of delivering the Infrastructure Order. Megan and Sourav also touch on the interplay between the US's strategic priority of exporting AI while strengthening export control enforcement.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli, Practice Director, and Anna Lisa Schäfer-Gehrau, Associate, discuss the latest developments in digital policy from Brussels, focusing on the Digital Fairness Act (DFA) and its implications for child protection and fairness in digital environments.  They explore the intersection of the DFA with existing regulations like the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the AI Act, the scope of the DFA, and the ongoing consultation process. The conversation also highlights international regulatory trends and the importance of stakeholder engagement as the EU moves towards significant legislative changes in the coming months. Top in Tech will take a short break for August and return in September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of Top in Tech, Megan Stagman, Director, UK TMT, is joined by Charlie Norell, Senior Associate in GC's Health & Life Sciences practice, to unpack the UK’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan and what it means for the future of healthcare innovation. They explore how the Plan aims to reshape the NHS, with a focus on the government's desired shift from analogue to digital and harnessing the latest technologies. They reflect on next steps for the proposed Single Patient Record, the expanded role of the NHS App, new "Global Institutes" and regional innovation zones, and dig into the political drivers and fiscal considerations behind the Plan. The discussion covers the opportunities this creates for MedTech, life sciences, and digital health, alongside key challenges such as funding gaps and structural reform.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli, Practice Director, is joined by Emilie Kerstens, Senior Associate, and Anna Lisa Schäfer-Gehrau, Associate, to unpack the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and its growing significance for EU-US relations in the tech and trade space. They explore how the DMA is shaping Europe’s digital regulatory landscape and creating new tensions with US policymakers, who view the framework as disproportionately targeting American firms. The discussion covers early enforcement lessons, the changing tone of transatlantic trade negotiations, and what the DMA reveals about the EU’s broader regulatory direction. They also reflect on the practical challenges of compliance, the role of emerging case law, and the implications for future digital legislation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of Top in Tech, Megan Stagman, Director, is joined by Fergus Cameron-Watt, Senior Associate, to unpack the UK government’s recent spending review and its implications for the tech sector. Megan and Fergus explore how the Spending Review reflects the government’s shifting priorities, with notable gains for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the backing of the new sovereign AI unit. They assess what these developments mean for start-ups, digital infrastructure, and tech suppliers to the government, and situate this in the context of a flurry of forthcoming strategies (including the Industrial Strategy and the Digital and AI Roadmap). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli, Practice Director for Technology, Media and Telecoms, is joined by Senior Associates Natasha Dixon and Russell Lamb to unpack one of the most complex policy dilemmas in today’s tech landscape: copyright in the age of artificial intelligence. They explore the current UK and EU approaches to balancing creator protections with AI innovation, as policymakers grapple with how to regulate the use of copyrighted material in training AI systems. From recent development on the UK Data (Use and Access Bill) and criticisms from the creative industry - including Paul McCartney and Elton John - to the EU Code of Practice on Generative AI, this episode examines where regulation stands - and where it might be headed next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of Top in Tech, Megan Stagman, Director, is joined by GC MENA Adviser Aliyah Dar to unpack the key technology and investment developments emerging from US President Donald Trump’s recent tour of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  They recap the key announcements coming out of the trip - including a new AI campus in Abu Dhabi and increased Saudi investment in US tech firms - and evaluate how this divergence from prior US policy on export restrictions might play domestically. They also dive into the 'data embassy' concept that was raised during the trip with Saudi Arabia, and what the next steps on delivering this are expected to be.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli, Director, is joined by Senior Associates Natasha Dixon and Fergus Cameron Watt, along with Philipp Mühl, Associate Director, to explore the complex and fast-evolving landscape of digital sovereignty across Europe. Together, they unpack how Germany, France, and the UK are approaching digital sovereignty through different political, strategic, and technological lenses. From the role of artificial intelligence to the use of public procurement as a national tool, the team unpacks the policies shaping Europe’s digital future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week's episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli, Director in our Tech, media and telecoms team is joined by Natasha Dixon, Senior Associate, to unpack the European Commission’s newly released AI Continent Action Plan and what it means for businesses, policymakers, and the broader tech ecosystem. Together, they explore the plan’s five central pillars - from compute infrastructure and data, to AI adoption, talent and legislative simplification - and assess how these priorities aim to boost European AI innovation and competitiveness. The conversation dives into the broader strategic objectives behind the plan, including strengthening EU technological sovereignty, addressing data centre capacity, and navigating transatlantic relations. Natasha also shares insights on how businesses can engage with the Commission’s ongoing public consultations and contribute to shaping Europe’s AI future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week's episode of Top in Tech, Megan Stagman is joined by Conan D'Arcy, Senior Practice Director, and Chris Levy, Head of Research and Insight, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of online safety regulation, alongside the launch of our new original research report.Based on our recently-conducted opinion research, they explore public concerns driving the policy conversation—from child protection to misinformation and encryption—and what the report reveals about geographic differences and political dynamics shaping the global agenda.They also anticipate how future legislation could unfold across jurisdictions, and how it might intersect with broader regulatory frameworks on privacy, data protection, and platform responsibility.Read the report here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli and Robyn Staveley discuss the recent surge in European defence spending, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. They explore the implications of increased budgets on defence technology, procurement strategies, and the role of both traditional and new suppliers in the defence sector. They also discuss the importance of technological innovation, the need for collaboration between EU and UK defence strategies, and the challenges posed by satellite infrastructure and data sovereignty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this bonus episode of Top in Tech, Conan D'Arcy is joined by Ellison Anne Williams, CEO of Enveil, and Harry Palmer, Associate Director at Global Counsel, to discuss the report 'Breaking barriers: how data sharing can transform the fight against economic crime'. They explore the challenges and recommendations for improving data sharing practices to combat economic crime, emphasizing the role of privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) in facilitating secure data collaboration between public and private sectors. Ellison-Anne and Harry also explore the current landscape of economic crime in the UK and the potential for innovative solutions to enhance data sharing efforts.Read the report here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Top in Tech, Adriana Capparelli and Jack Keevill discuss the new EU Commission Work Program, highlighting its focus on simplification, competitiveness, and security in response to geopolitical dynamics. They explore the implications of various initiatives, the complexity of tech policy, and the impact of withdrawn proposals on stakeholders. The conversation also touches on the potential effects of the work program on transatlantic relations and the tech sector's future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week's episode of Top in Tech, Directors Adriana Capparelli and Megan Stagman explore what DeepSeek means for questions of US AI supremacy, the efficacy of export restrictions, and whether we might see more on open source in the months to come.  They also predict what the future for DeepSeek might hold, and how it will interact with existing and forthcoming regulatory frameworks around safety, data protection, intellectual property and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ana Gradinaru, Director and Jack Keevill, Associate Director in our Brussels office explore the recent developments surrounding social media regulation in the EU, particularly focusing on the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the reactions from major tech figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.  They highlight the implications of the DSA for online platforms, the investigations launched against them, and the political dynamics within the EU institutions as they navigate the challenges posed by big tech. They also share their predictions for future developments in this ongoing issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Top in Tech, Director Megan Stagman and Senior Practice Director Conan D'Arcy predict what we should expect as the biggest global tech policy trends for 2025. They explore the growing rift between American tech companies and European policymakers (and what the future might hold for the Musk-Trump alliance), consider where we might see more tech multilateralism as opposed to increasing divergence, and discuss what the emerging technology of the year might be - with satellites, digital ID and quantum all possible contenders.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Top in Tech, Director Megan Stagman and Senior Associate Josh Bates explore the UK communications regulator Ofcom’s recently published illegal harms codes and the regulator’s broader efforts to implement the UK’s new online safety regime. They also assess the extent of the appetite in both government and parliament for further regulation, and how geopolitics and international influence might shape the new trajectory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Top in Tech, Megan Stagman, Director and Ugonma Nwankwo, Senior Associate in our Tech, media and telecoms practice discuss the Biden administration’s new export restrictions aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced semiconductors and chipmaking equipment, technologies critical for AI development and military applications.They break down the key features of the restrictions, potential loopholes and challenges that could lessen their impact, and what to anticipate from the incoming Trump administration on China and export controls. In response to the new restrictions, China moved to immediately restrict the export of critical raw materials to the US escalating the tech war and exasperating trade tensions only a few weeks before President-elect Trump is set to take office.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Conan D'Arcy, Senior Practice Director, and Adriana Capparelli, Director, unpack the Commissioner hearings taking place in Brussels, where prospective Commissioners have faced a grilling from Members of the European Parliament. They explore the performances of the digital Commissioners, what we have learned about the upcoming EU tech agenda and explore how the election of Donald Trump might collide with the EU's plans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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