Concerns over the AI Omnibus, Europe’s lack of digital sovereignty, and online safety dominated discussions ahead of the EC’s proposal for a Cloud and AI Development Act
Loosening the regulatory grip on AI
Plans to regulate AI are increasingly being rolled back as policymakers look to avoid any strict guardrails that could hinder AI development
Australia: ACMA set to enforce its own consumer protection code
Despite the success of some ‘world-first’ industry-led initiatives, ACMA’s decision reflects calls for more direct regulation of the telecoms sector
UK: Limiting children’s access to smartphones and social media
The Government will consider the impact of legislation implemented abroad as well as the views of both parents and young people before determining its approach
US: Deregulating state-level AI rules
In line with the US’ more relaxed approach to AI regulation, the Government has further restricted local policymakers’ ability to rein in the technology
Spain: Preparing telecoms networks for critical incidents
Operators’ estimates for the cost of enhanced power resilience at mobile sites dwarf the Government’s own calculations by a factor of five to one
Securing emergency calling during 2G/3G retirement
Though it did not reference it directly, the PTS has learned from the issues with device compatibility in Australia in preparing operators for 2G and 3G shutdowns
Australia: Designing a digital duty of care
Though a duty of care aligns well with the approaches in the EU and UK, the Australian Government is signalling it will go further than its peers in regulating online safety
ACMA’s five-year spectrum outlook
The regulator is set to make critical decisions on expiring licences and the upper 6GHz band, while supporting the introduction of a novel mobile USO
Ofcom's proposals on mobile messaging scams
Unlike its peers, Ofcom sees the need to place additional, binding obligations on operators to help prevent fraudulent business communications
