Technology, Data and Privacy

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher's European team of tech, data and privacy lawyers bring you the latest updates from the rapidly evolving world of data privacy, regulation, AI, automation. and robotics. 

  1. Data and Privacy Matters: Legal Updates - May 2025

    12 JUN

    Data and Privacy Matters: Legal Updates - May 2025

    In the latest episode of Fieldfisher's Data and Privacy Matters podcast, hosts Martin McElroy, Anna Rawlinson and Leo McSweeney provide a roundup of the significant legal updates from May 2025. We begin with the Irish Data Protection Commission’s engagement with Meta’s plans to train its generative AI models using public Facebook and Instagram content. We also cover the potential for legal challenges to Meta's plans from civil society as well as other Meta developments in Germany and their response to the EDPB’s ‘consent or pay’ opinion.  Shifting focus to broader data protection issues, we discuss the EDPB’s positive opinion on the European Patent Organisation’s adequacy decision and its cautious stance on extending the UK’s adequacy status. We also consider the European Commission's proposed targeted GDPR compliance simplifications for a specific category of small mid-cap (SMCs) enterprises. Enforcement actions continue across the EU, with the Irish DPC fining TikTok €530 million for unlawful data transfers to China, the Italian SA fining Luka Inc. €5 million over its AI chatbot, Replika and France’s CNIL penalising SOLOCAL €900,000 for unlawful marketing practices.  In the UK, the Data Use and Access Bill faced amendments around AI transparency in the House of Lords, and the ICO responded to the major cyberattacks on several UK retailers.  These updates underscore the intensifying regulatory focus on AI, cross-border data flows, and commercial data use—essential insights for anyone navigating the evolving digital compliance landscape. Find the sources of news discussed here.

    13 min
  2. Data and Privacy Matters: Legal Updates - December 2024

    21 JAN

    Data and Privacy Matters: Legal Updates - December 2024

    Join the team as Lorna Cropper, Chloe Abbot and Anna Rawlinson discuss the European Data Protection Board’s (EDPB) opinion regarding AI models and personal data processing including the considerations that must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, particularly when using legitimate interests as a foundation for AI development. Lorna then turns to the EU's progress on the General Purpose AI Code of Practice, which guides AI providers on compliance with the AI Act. This draft involves several working groups, and the next iteration is expected soon, aimed at ensuring seamless integration and practicality. Anna follows on with updates on the ICO's consultation series on generative AI including lawful bases for using web-scraped data, the necessity for transparency, and the importance of designing AI products with data protection in mind from the outset.  With the EU's digital strategy advancing, it's clear that the GDPR cannot be looked at in isolation and its interplay with the EU AI Act, the EU Data Strategy and the Digital Services Package is something the EDPB wants to receive more consideration, which it flags in its response to the EU's second GDPR evaluation report.  The episode then covers the UK’s Data (Use and Access ) Bill, which proposes significant amendments to automated decision-making rules and multiple enforcement actions such as Italy's data protection regulator fining OpenAI €15 million for GDPR breaches and concludes with a discussion on Ofcom's new codes of practice aimed at addressing illegal online content under the UK's Online Safety Act. Find the sources here.

    28 min

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Fieldfisher's European team of tech, data and privacy lawyers bring you the latest updates from the rapidly evolving world of data privacy, regulation, AI, automation. and robotics. 

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