Dear This month’s newsletter takes a look back at 2018, as well as looking ahead to 2019: the IIC’s 50th anniversary year. This year has seen the IIC visit Singapore, Brussels, Miami, Sydney, Thailand, Mexico and Washington DC to bring regulators, industry and other stakeholders together at our events. In the month when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published preliminary recommendations in its platforms inquiry, our new open access article from InterMedia is Cristina Murroni’s roundup of the Telecommunications & Media Forum held in Sydney earlier this year. Our Q&A for this month sees our President, Chris Chapman, give his take on the priorities and concerns in Australia, as well as his predictions of what 2019 will bring for the country. Throughout 2018, our events have included discussions on topics such as platform regulation, IoT, AI, cybersecurity and data privacy. To those in Europe, the GDPR which came into effect in May
has seen organisations change how they interact with their customers. Other countries have looked at the European example and used it in their own discussions around privacy. Thailand is in the process of enacting data privacy laws, and in Singapore an ethics-based framework for AI is under consideration. Australia is introducing a new Consumer Data Right, enabling consumers to own their data and use it to ensure they get the best solutions for banking, energy, phone and internet. Events run by our Chapter network around the world have allowed examination of the issues at a country-specific level, using lessons learned from elsewhere combined with knowledge of local priorities and concerns to suggest how challenges can be overcome and opportunities maximised. As another year draws to a close, I would like to thank our members and supporters
for their participation throughout 2018. Our work is only possible because of you, and as we begin our 50th anniversary year, we look forward to another fifty years of bringing experts together to debate the issues that matter in a neutral, collegiate environment. Best Wishes Andrea Millwood Hargrave
Director General
ASIA 2019
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
12-15 February 2019
We return to Asia for our annual Telecommunications, Media & Regulatory Forum in February. The TMRF includes a one-day Regional Regulators’ Forum, a two-day Telecommunications & Media Forum, and a workshop on AI for the final day. You can learn more here, and ensure that you do not miss an update by setting your IIC mailing preferences here.
Telecoms and media analyst, Cristina Murroni, provides an overview of the Telecommunications & Media Forum which took place in Sydney, Australia, earlier this year. From platforms to cyber-security and the Internet of Things, Australian regulators and stakeholders discussed the opportunities and challenges presented in today’s technology landscape. You can read Cristina’s report in full here.
Q&A
Chris Chapman, President, IIC
IIC President, Chris Chapman, gives his views on the regulatory issues facing Australia: examining the National Broadband Network, attitudes towards AI, and the issues for 2019. Chris was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA). You can read the Q&A in full here.
On 20th November, IIC Australia Chapter held events concurrently in Melbourne and Sydney on the new Consumer Data Right. The Right will give consumers ownership of the data held about them by banks, energy suppliers, telcos and ISPs. You can learn more about the event here, and watch a video interview with Dr Bill Roberts, Head of Open Banking at the UK Competition & Market Authority.
With more personal data being collected in order to help AI applications improve, there are real concerns on both sides about what this means for consumer privacy. This event examined how we can achieve a balance between maximising the benefits of AI without compromising privacy. The full report of the discussions can be found here.
In order to consider how harm on social media might be reduced while respecting fundamental human rights, panellists explored an evolution towards a functioning, common sense policy and regulatory approach. You can read the full report of the event here.
Each month we highlight some of the key regulatory news stories from around the world. You can view them all here. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released Provisions of the Administration of Blockchain Information Services for public comment in October. The 23 provisions aim to govern all entities providing blockchain-based information services within the country, and is a first step towards regulation. Learn more.
Dates for your diary
Telecommunications & Media Forum
Brussels, Belgium
26-27 March 2019
We will be returning to Brussels for our regular Telecommunications & Media Forum in March. Check the website for updates or ensure you get event-related emails from us by setting your preferences here. Save the date! The IIC’s 50th Annual Conference will take place as part of Communications Policy & Regulation Week, from 7-10 October 2019 in London, UK.
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