Top in Tech

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.