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NLJ this week: Can this Act keep us safe online?

22 March 2024
Issue: 8064 / Categories: Legal News , Cyber , Cybercrime , Technology , Privacy , Criminal , Artificial intelligence
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From deepfakes to revenge porn, the rise of online crime has created a tough environment to police

In this week’s NLJ, Farrer & Co partner Thomas Rudkin and associate Emily Costello assess the chances of the Online Safety Act 2023, the latest sheriff in town.

Will the Act live up to the government’s boast that it makes the UK ‘the safest place in the world to be online’? Rudkin and Costello examine some key provisions of the Act. They note the ‘potentially dramatic and rapid technological—and indeed social—developments’ that pose a major challenge to regulation of this area, such as artificial intelligence. 

The authors write that while it could be said the Act ‘doesn’t provide sufficient detail’ to cover some gaps that have been identified, ‘some of its more generic wording may serve to cover technological advances yet to emerge’.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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