The EU-US Tech Council: A new special relationship?
16/06/2021
The EU and the USA have announced a new transatlantic tech council. Details are scant at the moment, but we can expect cooperation on everything from content moderation to competition. This is bad news for tech companies.
Loot boxes in the UK: Ministers ask industry to remove them
16/06/2021
As the UK Government considers the responses to its call for evidence on loot boxes in video games, Ministers are piling the pressure on to developers and publishers. This memo explains what Ministers want, and how developers and publishers are reacting.
A global tax agreement: The impact and implementation
09/06/2021
Tax and international companies has been an issue of contention for decades. Most recently the focus of the argument has been tech companies. Some countries, including the UK, have introduced their own digital services taxes to try and shore up their tax bases. This global agreement may render them meaningless.
Delivering a new model for work: What does does the Government have in store?
02/06/2021
The UK Government has been thinking for a long time about the UK's employment law and whether it is fit for the 21st century and the gig economy. This memo takes a look at the Government's thinking and what is likely.
The National Data Strategy: An in-depth assessment
26/05/2021
The UK Government has published the National Data Strategy. It has been in the works for a long time, and proposes to change how data is used and shared in both the public sector and the private sector.
The Draft Online Safety Bill: An in-depth analysis
19/05/2021
The long-awaited Online Safety Bill has been published in draft form. This will fundamentally rewrite the rules for the internet and tech companies operating in the UK. Greenstone Research takes an in-depth look at what it means.
The Queen's Speech 2021: What does it mean for tech companies?
12/05/2021
The Queen's Speech tells us the Government's legislative agenda for this Parliamentary session. Greenstone Research takes a look at what it means for tech businesses and investors.
Epic consequences: A fight for our phones
05/05/2021
Epic is taking the fight to Apple over the App Store and its commission. This will have major consequences for app stores, platforms, and apps.
Content moderation goes global
28/04/2021
The UK has long claimed its approach to content moderation and online safety is "world leading". This has been mostly met by derision, but the Government has used the UK's Presidency of the G7 to secure an agreement that leans on the UK's model for internet regulation. A major coup with global ramifications.
Working 9 to 5: Uber ensures you make a living
24/03/2021
Following a landmark judgment in the UK's Supreme Court, Uber are reworking their relationship with and support for drivers. This is going to be expensive, and will likely spill over into other jurisdictions.
GDPR 2.0? A date with data
17/03/2021
GDPR has been roundly criticised by parts of the Conservative Party. Now, the Secretary of State for Digital is looking to make data a "Brexit dividend". Data adequacy is at risk.
Spring Budget 2021: What does it mean for tech companies?
03/03/2021
The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented his Spring Budget. Rishi is the tech Chancellor, and this Budget has plenty in it for technology companies, founders and investors.
Tough Gig: The relationship between business and workers in the gig economy is shifting
24/02/2021
A barely healing wound has been reopened by the Supreme Court's ruling that some Uber drivers were workers rather than independent contractors. This will be important for many "gig economy" digital businesses, but also for other parts of the economy.
Taking Stock: Financial harms may be back in scope of the UK’s Online Safety Bill
17/02/2021
The UK Government is preparing to publish its final proposal around online harms. This will regulate how online businesses that allow users to create and interact are allowed to operate. Up until now the Government has tried to exclude "financial harms" such as pension scams, but this looks increasingly likely to change.
Ahead of the Game: Analysing the political, regulatory and policy risks to the UK's video games industry
20/01/2021
The video games industry continues to grow in the UK, with publicly-traded businesses such as Team17 and Frontier Developments increasing significantly in value. As the industry gets bigger it is increasingly the target of government and regulators. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of regulatory and political risks to the UK's video games industry, as well as including exclusive polling.
