Québec passes modern privacy legislation
The Québec National Assembly
has passed new privacy legislation for the province of Québec. The Act became law on September 22nd and will be phased in over a three-year period until September 22, 2023. It brings Québec’s privacy legislation closer in line with the GDPR by establishing higher penalties, clearer regulations for cross-border transfers, and new rights for individuals, including data portability rights and the right to be forgotten.
Twitch.TV sees major hack and one of the most comprehensive online attacks to date
As
reported by Video Games Chronicle, an anonymous hacker has leaked “the entirety of Twitch,” “to foster more disruption and competition in the online streaming space.” Among other things, the platform’s source code, proprietary software development kits, and user payout information has been made available for public download. Some reports suggest the leak also involved encrypted passwords, however this remains unclear to date.
Social media giants facing global investigations into transparency, misinformation, mental health
The Senate Commerce Committee in the United States spent
three hours on Tuesday questioning whistleblower Frances Haugen about the impact of social media platforms on young people. The hearing, titled, “Protecting Kids Online,” addressed polarization, misinformation, and mental health.
The lead rapporteur for the European Digital Services Act
has called for updates to the EU’s platform regulations following the high-profile leak of internal Facebook documents. The documents, published by the Wall Street Journal, discuss misinformation and mental health harms related to the platform.
The Irish Data Protection Authority has concluded its
three-year investigation into Whatsapp and finds that the social media company has contravened the GDPR, and will be subject to a €225 million fine. The decision is reportedly the largest penalty issued by the Data Protection Commission to date.
UK government launches first National AI Strategy
The UK government has launched the country’s first
National AI Strategy. The ten-year plan, aimed at making Britain a “global AI superpower,” will enable better data availability in the wider economy; support AI skills research and labour force development; incorporate AI provisions into trade deals; and assess the UK’s semi-conductor supply chains and compute capacity. Canada’s Pan-Canadian AI Strategy is set to
expand and receive further investment, and a
recent report by ICTC discusses how new investments can prioritize commercialization, responsible AI, and inclusive economic growth.
UK Intellectual Property Office launches new “IP access” funding scheme for SMEs
The UKIPO launched
a new funding program to help small and medium sized enterprises invest in their IP. The program, which provides £5,000 to eligible SMEs in the UK, supports various IP-related costs, including IP asset management, fees related to consulting or advice, and IP insurance and valuation. -
Mairead Matthews