French parliament gives government power to adopt rules for autonomous vehicles
21 January 20
Sofia Dilinos
France adopted a Law on the Mobility (LOM) of goods and individuals. The law implements some of the objectives contained in the country’s strategy on autonomous vehicles, which aims at allowing the circulation in France of highly autonomous cars by 2022.
Argentinian telecoms and media authorities´ new structure
20 January 20
Carolina Limbatto
Argentina´s new government changed the structure of telecom and media policy makers but maintained Enacom as regulator of these two sectors. The government created a new public innovation secretariat under the President’s chief of cabinet office that is responsible for innovation, ICT, telecoms and media policy.
EU Digital Economy Weekly Report
19 January 20
Javier Huerta Bravo
This week’s edition features stories about an EU expert group’s recommendations on changes to the product liability framework to address new technologies such as artificial intelligence, a European Parliament resolution calling for stricter environmental measures for the digital sector than proposed by the European Commission in its Green Deal, demands by MEPs for a common charger for all mobile phones, and opinions by an adviser to the EU’s top court suggesting to narrow the national security exception in electronic communications data retention. The report also lists events taking place this week.
Green Deal: European Parliament proposes specific goals for the digital sector
16 January 20
Martin Schraa
The European Parliament wants to set a higher target for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, calling for specific measures to implement the European Green Deal in the digital sector.
The Parliament plenary adopted a (non-binding) resolution on 15 January 2020.
European Commission expert group suggests improvements in product liability framework to address emerging technologies
16 January 20
Elisar Bashir
A report by the European Commission’s expert group on liability and new technologies found that the current liability regimes in the EU can benefit from certain adjustments, such as a risk-based approach, mandatory liability insurance for high-risk technologies and a reversal or alleviation of the burden of proof on the victim, to address the new risks and challenges posed by emerging technologies.
Uber reacts to California law classifying workers as employees
13 January 20
Andre Moura Gomes
Uber announced changes to the terms applicable to 150,000 drivers in California to reinforce the company’s claims that drivers are independent contractors.