The Bytesize Briefing with Atticus Partners - Instagram’s new safety features, AI growth across the UK and EU, online safety priorities in Ireland

Welcome to the Atticus Partners technology newsletter: the Bytesize Briefing!??

Each month we cover politics and policy from across the UK and European technology sectors.??

In this edition, we cover Instagram’s new privacy feature, what to expect from the upcoming UK AI Act, France’s ambition to become the leader in AI technology, how the EU intends to regulate this innovative technology over the next year, and online safety priorities in Ireland.??

For more information about Atticus’ work in the technology sector, or questions about the support we could offer you, please get in touch via [email protected].?

1. Instagram announces new child safety features, as UK Government strengths Online Safety Act?

Instagram is introducing new privacy features for users under 18, including making accounts private by default and limiting notifications during night-time hours to promote healthier online habits. The platform is also providing more supervision tools for parents to monitor interactions, addressing concerns about inappropriate contact and excessive screen time. These changes, which will apply to users in the UK as well, come amid growing pressure to improve children's online safety, particularly as social media faces criticism for exposing minors to harmful content.?

Continuing the previous Government’s focus on online safety, UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle announced that new legal changes will require tech platforms to proactively remove and prevent the sharing of non-consensual intimate images, which will be classified as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act. Social media companies that fail to comply face significant fines, as part of the UK government's effort to combat online sexual abuse and reduce violence against women and girls.?

2. Labour picks up the mantle on AI?

Whilst the previous Conservative Government may be known for chairing the world’s first AI Safety Summit, the new Labour Government has managed to secure its own AI victory by launching the first legally binding international treaty addressing risks of artificial intelligence. Signed by the UK, EU, US, and Israel, the agreement requires safeguards against AI threats to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.??

Not content to stop there, the Government announced it would host a follow-up AI safety conference in San Francisco on November 21-22, focused on implementing commitments from previous summits. Speaking on the significance of this announcement, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the “conference is a clear sign of the UK’s ambition to further the shared global mission to design practical and effective approaches to AI safety.”?

The Government’s approach to AI policy is generally being welcomed by the industry. Speaking at the recent Labour Party Conference, OpenAI’s Head of UK Policy, Brittany Smith announced her support for UK legislation, urging it to promote safety practices. Smith also added that OpenAI was “in favour of legislation, not only in a way that controls the potential effect that models can have on society but also legislation that can incentivise AI safety.”??

3. European Union shares stop gap for AI Act

Ahead of the AI Act coming into full force in 2026, the European Union has issued a voluntary AI Pact calling on participating companies to commit to three core actions: an AI governance strategy, identifying AI systems likely to be high risk, and promoting AI awareness amongst staff. There has been widespread support for the Pact across the sector with big names in the tech space, including OpenAI, Microsoft and Amazon, being amongst the first 100 companies to sign the pledge,??

Notably absent from the Pact, however, was Meta, who said it is currently focusing its compliance work on the AI Act, but has not ruled out joining at a later date. Other companies have also indicated a reluctance to sign the Pact, citing concerns it could become “too much of a prescriptive exercise” and could divert time and resources away from compliance with the Act.??

Industry stakeholders have also expressed concerns about the how outcomes from the Pact will be reported – citing lack of clarity on the process.?

4. French Government outlines commitment to AI technology?

The French Government has demonstrated its shifting policy priorities by renaming its Ministry for Digital Transition and Telecommunications to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies.??

This focus has been reiterated with the appointment of Clara Chappaz to the role of Secretary of State leading the Ministry’s work programme. Chappaz is formerly the CEO of the Government’s start-up body, French Tech. ?

France has continued its major programme of AI investment over recent months, including the 2.5 billion euros pledged to the sector in June as part of its France 2030 plan. it is expected the AI Action Summit being hosted across the Channel in February 2025 will result in further commitments on AI technology – potentially including greater funding for France’s flagship AI models Mistral AI and H, which are seen as competitors against the market leaders.?

5. Online safety in Ireland?

Last month’s Bytesize Briefing explored the charging of a man over an online threat to kill the Taoiseach Simon Harris and revelations about Big Tech companies’ lobbying of key political figures over issues including online safety. Following this, online safety issues have continued to dominate the headlines.??

Earlier this month, the Taoiseach chaired an Online Safety Summit aimed at coordinating cross-government action on online safety, including steps being taken to protect Ireland’s most vulnerable groups. At the Summit Coimisiún na Meán (CNaM), other regulators and the Garda Síochána (Ireland’s national police service) briefed Harris and other Ministers on progress and challenges implementing new safety regulations.?

CNaM also provided an update on the new Online Safety Code, which will be adopted in October and impose new obligations on companies to address illegal and harmful content, as well as the implementation of the EU-wide Digital Services Act.??

Look ahead...

With the whirlwind 2024 Party Conference season almost over, attention will now turn to the return of Parliament over the coming days. In particular, all eyes will be on 30th October when the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will deliver her first Budget.??

Reeves will continue to lay the groundwork over the coming weeks ahead of the Budget which is expected to be painful and include spending cuts and tax rises to help address an alleged ￡22 billion fiscal black hole.??

With mixed reaction to some of the new Government’s early moves – such as the decision to pull ￡1.3 billion of funding from previously funded computing and AI projects – the industry will be hoping that the upcoming Budget does not hit it hard.??

Keen observers will also be keeping an eye out for progress on major pieces of technology legislation, including the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill which featured in this year’s King’s Speech. The specifics of the legislative timetable for these bills are currently unconfirmed but these pieces of legislation will undoubtedly form a critical element of UK tech policy over the coming months and years. ?

To find out about how Atticus helps tech companies to navigate the changing regulatory and legislative landscape, get in touch with our team at [email protected] to learn more about what we can do for you.