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Data ethics

Data underpins the digital economy.

Thanks to advanced analytics and massive improvements in processing power, data can be used to optimise processes and create new products and services tailored to our needs. But this huge leap forward is not without risks. As innovators push the boundaries, so the spotlight is falling on the ethics of data use – shifting the debate from what we can do with data to what we should.

Our data ethics insights

Blogs

Synthetic data: a privacy panacea?

Data-driven businesses are increasingly looking toward synthetic data – ie, data that is artificially generated but may be derived from real-world datasets – as an option to unlock larger volumes of…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Markus Kattnig, Christine Chong, Christine Lyon

  • data
  • data protection
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • global
  • regulatory
  • us

UK announces data reforms: what businesses need to know

On 23 October 2024 the UK government introduced the Data (Use and Access) Bill to Parliament (the DUAB). The DUAB is a wide-ranging and significant reform package with implications for all businesses…

Author(s): Giles Pratt, Rachael Annear, Tristan Lockwood, Adam Gillert

  • ai
  • data
  • data protection
  • e-commerce
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • ico
  • internet of things
  • platforms
  • regulatory
  • regulatory framework
  • tech media and telecoms
  • onlinesafety

Leading the Change: 2025 Data Law Trends report

We’re excited to share our latest report, Leading the Change: 2025 Data Law Trends.  Data now impacts all aspects of businesses, from risk management and global operations to growth strategies. The…

Author(s): Christine Lyon, Giles Pratt, Christoph Werkmeister

  • ai
  • americas
  • asia-pacific
  • cyber security
  • data
  • data protection
  • e-commerce
  • eu ai act
  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • european data spaces
  • gdpr
  • global
  • ico
  • innovation
  • internet of things
  • platforms
  • regulatory framework
  • tech media and telecoms
  • us
  • onlinesafety

EU AI Act unpacked #15: Will the AI Act remain as is? Level II legislation and Commission guidance

In part 15 of our EU AI Act unpacked blog series, we take a look at when and how the EU AI Act (AI Act) will continue to evolve over the coming months and years.            More than any other…

Author(s): Verena Kirchmair, Victor Garcia Lopez, Christoph Werkmeister, Theresa Ehlen, Lutz Riede, Philipp Roos

  • ai
  • data
  • eu ai act
  • eu ai act series
  • europe

EU Commission publishes practical guide on an evolving EU digital economy

Aiming to encourage voluntary data sharing for business and citizen benefits through secure and trustworthy exchanges, the Data Governance Act (DGA) is a core part of the European data strategy. The…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen, Markus Kattnig

  • data
  • e-commerce
  • eu data act
  • eu data governance act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • european data spaces
  • global
  • platforms
  • regulatory
  • regulatory framework
  • tech media and telecoms

Key insights for businesses from the EU Commission’s FAQ on the EU Data Act

To aid in its implementation, the European Commission has published frequently asked questions on the EU Data Act. Check out our earlier blog post for a quick rundown of the EU Data Act.  Reflecting…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen

  • consumer
  • data
  • data protection
  • eu data act
  • europe
  • internet of things
  • manufacturing
  • regulatory
  • regulatory framework
  • tech media and telecoms
  • eu digital strategy

Fairness in B2B relationships in the digital world

In the ever-evolving landscape of data regulation, the EU Data Act stands as a pivotal milestone. Beyond its wide-ranging data access provisions, the Data Act introduces a comprehensive framework to…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen, Tanja Pfleger

  • data
  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • global
  • innovation
  • internet of things
  • regulatory
  • retail

GDPR enforcement - new rules for cross-border investigations

The amount of fines imposed under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) reached a new high in 2023. A recently leaked proposal for a regulation laying down additional procedural rules…

Author(s): Yannick Chatard, Christoph Werkmeister

  • data
  • data protection
  • gdpr
  • investigations

When algorithms decide – New EU data rules for digital labour platforms

After intense debates among EU legislators, the EU Parliament formally adopted the ‘Directive on improving working conditions in platform work’ (the Directive) on 24 April 2024. The Directive aims to…

Author(s): Christoph Werkmeister, Laura Knoke, Philipp Roos, John-Markus Maddaloni

  • data
  • data protection
  • eu ai act
  • eu digital strategy
  • gdpr
  • innovation
  • platforms

Seoul Summit sees further developments in international governance of frontier AI

The AI Seoul Summit, co-hosted by South Korea and the UK, took place on 21-22 May 2024. The summit focused on safety, innovation and inclusivity in regard to ‘frontier AI’ - meaning highly capable…

Author(s): Theresa Ehlen, Beth George, Giles Pratt, Adam Gillert

  • ai
  • eu ai act
  • global
  • europe
  • tech media and telecoms
  • americas
  • asia-pacific
  • data

Synthetic data: The emerging hero

In our digital age, data stands as the undisputed ruler, coursing through the veins of our ever-more interconnected society. Amidst this data-driven upheaval, an unseen champion emerges, subtly but…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Markus Kattnig, Elisabeth Pferschy

  • data
  • data protection
  • gdpr
  • global
  • innovation
  • manufacturing
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms

Data and tech: collective actions and mass claims across Europe #2 – Focus on England and Wales

Actions for non-material damages following (alleged) infringements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are increasingly being brought before courts across Europe.  In our new blog post…

Author(s): Rachael Annear, Giles Pratt, Cat Greenwood-Smith, Rhodri Thomas, Christine Simpson, Tochukwu Egenti

  • data
  • data protection
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • litigation

Data and tech: collective actions and mass claims across Europe #1 – Focus on Germany

Actions for non-material damages following (alleged) infringements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are increasingly being brought before courts across Europe. But legal requirements…

Author(s): Martin Mekat, Christoph Werkmeister, Sarah Hillebrand

  • data
  • data protection
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • litigation

Data and tech: collective actions and mass claims across Europe

Actions for non-material damages following (alleged) infringements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are increasingly being brought before courts across Europe. But legal requirements…

Author(s): Giles Pratt, Christoph Werkmeister, Martin Mekat, Rachael Annear, Cat Greenwood-Smith, Rhodri Thomas, Jérôme Philippe, Mark Egeler, Satya Staes Polet, Giuseppe Curtò, Mijke Sinninghe Damsté

  • data
  • data protection
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • litigation

When GDPR and Data Act clash: what Businesses need to know

Like other parts of the EU Digital Strategy, also the Data Act reaffirms the supremacy of data protection laws, ensuring that the rights and obligations under the GDPR, being the centrepiece of EU…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Elisabeth Pferschy, Estella Dannhausen

  • data
  • data protection
  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • internet of things
  • manufacturing
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms

Unlocking the treasure trove: The EU introduces mandatory Business-to-Government data sharing

The EU Data Act has brought a new rule for businesses. Chapter V requires that businesses share their data with the government: Business-to-Government (B2G) data sharing. According to the EU…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen, Tina Fokter Cuvan

  • data
  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • governments and public sector
  • innovation
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms

The first of its kind: exploring the European Health Data Space

We are going through what is known as the third major global economic wave at an unprecedented pace. This wave is driven by the growth and achievement of industries that rely on data as the most…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen, Carolina Costa, Ludwig Hartenau

  • eu mobility data space
  • data
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • european data spaces
  • life sciences

Freshfields AI thought-leadership events: Key takeaways for global businesses

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been at the heart of two major events focusing on the implications of AI for global businesses.  Hosted by the Rothschild Foundation, and organised by Tortoise…

Author(s): Beth George, Natasha Good, Giles Pratt

  • ai
  • data
  • eu ai act
  • eu ai liability directive
  • europe
  • global
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms
  • us

The 'lead claimant' model - the future for data privacy mass claims?

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Lloyd v Google (on which we have previously blogged), coupled with the vast upfront costs of bringing claims via a group litigation order (GLO), is leading claimant law…

Author(s): Cat Greenwood-Smith, Charlie Fisher

  • data
  • data protection
  • cyber security
  • litigation

UK data protection reforms may be coming soon – after more reforms of the reforms

In November 2023, the UK government introduced further amendments to the already-extensive set of data protection reforms proposed in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (the Bill).…

Author(s): Rachael Annear, Giles Pratt, Claudia Chan, Adam Gillert

  • data
  • data protection
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • tech media and telecoms
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