The UK is leading the way on tech regulation

Edward Bowles | 21st February 2021 | Uncategorised
phone-292994_1280

Facebook's Director of Public Policy for Northern Europe, Edward Bowles, praises the UK's holistic approach to tech regulation and outlines the challenges to come

On 12 Feb 2020 the then Secretary of State for DCMS, together with the Home Secretary, published the Government’s initial response into the Online Harms consultation. The following day, Boris Johnson reshuffled his ministerial team and, just a few weeks thereafter, the country went into the first COVID lockdown. One might reasonably have feared that the business of government was going to be the least likely to adapt to the new virtual working life but, to Whitehall and parliament’s credit, they surprised us all. Select committee hearings from bedrooms, dining rooms, or broom closets were the new norm. Roll forward to year end, 2020, and a suite of announcements showed just how much work had been done in the intervening months: the government’s response to the CMA’s Market Study on Competition in Digital Advertising; the Digital Market Taskforce’s Advice to Government and the Government’s full response to the Online Harms (now Online Safety) consultation. The UK is at the forefront of ...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Trump: “The Operation Is Over” — But Recession Fears Deepen

Mace | April 8, 2025

President Trump likens the U.S. economy to a patient recovering from surgery as tariffs bite. Critics warn the treatment may kill the patient before healing begins.

Major U.S. Law Firms Enter Agreements with Trump Administration Amid Executive Order Threats

Thomas Edwards | April 6, 2025

Top U.S. law firms are striking multimillion-dollar deals with the Trump administration, curbing DEI policies and offering pro bono work to avoid punitive executive orders. The moves have

Markets Tank as Trump Tariffs Ignite Global Trade Showdown

Mace | April 6, 2025

Global stock markets plunged after President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs under emergency powers, including a baseline 10% levy and up to 54% on Chinese imports. China retaliated with

Huawei Faces Brussels Courtroom Over Corruption Allegations

Mace | April 4, 2025

Huawei representatives faced a Brussels court this week, accused of corruption and money laundering linked to their lobbying efforts in the EU. As the investigation unfolds, it could

Trump’s Tariffs: Global Trade Turmoil Unleashed

Mace | April 3, 2025

Trump’s sweeping new tariffs are shaking up global trade, hitting economies on every continent. As nations scramble to respond, a protracted trade war looms on the horizon.

Brussels faces transparency showdown as Patriots for Europe target EU funding contracts

Mace | April 2, 2025

Patriots for Europe has launched an unprecedented transparency offensive, submitting 86 freedom of information requests to the European Commission demanding access to thousands of EU contracts with NGOs.

Consumer sentiment plummets amid trade and inflation pressures

Mace | March 26, 2025

Consumer confidence in the US has plunged to its lowest level in over two years, as inflation and trade tensions grip the economy. New tariffs and regulatory upheaval

Australia’s 2025 Budget Binge: Labor Bets Big Before the Ballot

Mace | March 25, 2025

Labor’s 2025 federal budget delivers tax cuts, energy rebates and health spending aimed at easing cost-of-living pressure. With an election looming, the government is banking on short-term relief

Tech Titans Join Forces with San Francisco’s New Mayor to Revitalize the City

Mace | March 22, 2025

San Francisco’s new mayor is turning to tech titans to rescue a city in crisis.

Fuel Crisis Warning: Qantas Boss Sounds Alarm on Australia’s Energy Security

Mace | March 19, 2025

Qantas Chairman John Mullen has warned that Australia’s heavy reliance on imported fuel puts the nation at serious risk of supply disruptions. With domestic refining capacity dwindling, he