Top in Tech

In this episode, Conan D'Arcy and Ugonma Nwankwo discuss the failure of California’s SB 1047, a bill aimed at mitigating the potential catastrophic risks posed by future advanced AI systems. They break down the bill’s key provisions, its overall significance, the reasoning behind Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto, and the broader implications for AI regulation in the US and globally. The debate around SB 1047 has highlighted divisions among industry stakeholders, including revealing which types of regulations some companies are open to and which they oppose—a dynamic that lawmakers at both the state and federal levels are watching closely.

This week on Top in Tech, fresh from the UK Labour Party Conference, Director Megan Stagman and Senior Associate Josh Bates discuss their insights from their time in Liverpool.They cover the broad conclusions from the conference, including the key announcements for the tech sector, the feeling on the ground towards both the government and the DSIT ministerial team, and their thoughts on the up-and-coming MPs within the digital policy space.  

Conan D'Arcy and Jack Keevill, Associate Director in our Brussels office, unpack the Draghi Report and its implications for the tech and telecoms sectors in the EU. The report, which will shape the policy agenda of the next von der Leyen Commission, calls for a radical overhaul of the EU's economic and fiscal policies. It has also a flurry of recommendations on the future of the telecoms market, cloud computing, AI and semi-conductors. They also explore where Draghi's policy proposals match his ambitious rhetoric, where they do not, and which sectors will stand to benefit. 

On Tuesday, the US Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act with an overwhelming majority, advancing the package to the House, where their future remains uncertain. In this week’s episode of Top in Tech, Conan D’Arcy and Ugonma Nwankwo discuss the significance of these bills, the challenges they face in passing the House, and the potential state of US child online safety and privacy in 2025 if the bills do not pass.

This week on Top in Tech Jack Keevill is joined by Conan D'Arcy to discuss the implications for the EU's tech policy now that Ursula von der Leyen has secured a second term as European Commission president.

This week on Top in Tech, Associate Theresa Duemchen is joined by GC Germany Director Mohamed Hamzé to discuss key tech and digital policy issues in Germany. They focus on three key agenda items for the traffic light coalition: public sector digitisation, decoupling from China, and the implementation of European regulations.

This week on Top in Tech, Senior Practice Director Conan D'Arcy and Director Megan Stagman discuss the anticipated impact of the new Labour government on technology policy. They cover the ministerial appointments so far, what we should expect from the King's speech, and the tussle between different departments for ownership of certain briefs.

This week on Top in Tech, Natasha Dixon is joined by Ana Gradinaru to discuss the current state of play in French politics ahead of the final round of legislative elections this Sunday (7 July). They discuss the results of the first round, efforts to quell the rise of the far right, President Macron's legacy and what a new government could mean for the tech sector.