Europe: Technology

The UK's online safety regime is beginning to reshape how digital services verify users' ages, with Ofcom reporting a significant increase in the deployment of age assurance measures across pornography, social media, dating and gaming platforms.

The Malta Financial Services Authority has issued comprehensive guidance on artificial intelligence governance for financial firms, establishing clear expectations for board accountability, risk management frameworks, and third-party oversight. As AI adoption accelerates across the sector, regulated entities must now demonstrate robust control mechanisms, model validation processes, and data governance standards that align with both the EU AI Act and prudential requirements.

The Italian Data Protection Authority (“Garante”) imposed a €180,000 fine on Emirates following its investigation into the airline’s processing of passengers’ health data through its Medical Information for Fitness to Travel (“MEDIF”) process. While the authority confirmed that processing health data for the purpose of providing safe travel and special assistance was lawful and did not require consent, it found that Emirates failed to provide passengers with clear and comprehensive privacy information regarding the processing activities.

AI adoption in legal has crossed a threshold that should prompt every firm leader to ask a harder question. According to the Wolters Kluwer 2026 Future Ready Lawyer Survey of 810 lawyers, 92% of respondents now use at least one AI tool in their daily workflow, with more than half reporting time savings of 6–20% of their work week and 60% expecting their organization’s AI investment to grow over the next three years.

The rapid advance of artificial intelligence is creating unprecedented demand for data center capacity, raising complex questions about power availability, regulatory frameworks, and access to finance. This report explores seven critical themes shaping the future of the data centers sector, from geopolitical considerations and behind-the-meter power solutions to emerging partnership models and cybersecurity challenges.

The advance of AI has made data centers a critical source of geostrategic advantage, with hyperscale investment expected to exceed $1.5 trillion annually by 2034. However, operators and offtakers face an increasingly complex regulatory landscape spanning export controls, cybersecurity frameworks, data localization requirements, and environmental pressures.

AI Agents are transforming commerce by autonomously selecting goods, comparing prices, and initiating payments on behalf of consumers. This briefing explores the complex regulatory challenges and opportunities that agentic commerce presents for businesses, from contract formation and payment regulation to consumer protection and strategic partnerships.

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The Marks & Clerk AI Report 2024 explores the challenges of ownership and protection of AI-generated designs. While AI-generated products can meet design registration requirements, questions remain about who qualifies as the owner. The report reviews patent rulings on AI inventorship and explores protections available via Registered and Unregistered Design Rights in the UK, EU, and US. The UK offers Unregistered Design Rights, potentially available for AI-generated designs if marketed in qualify

Cryptocurrency fraud victims in Cyprus are increasingly targeted by sophisticated "recovery" scams involving cold calls, remote access requests, and false promises to retrieve lost digital assets. Recent court cases demonstrate that while recovery is not guaranteed, victims who preserve evidence and act quickly may have realistic legal options through Cyprus courts, including freezing orders, disclosure relief, and asset preservation measures.

Gibraltar has become one of the first jurisdictions to establish a standalone regulatory regime for prediction markets, distinct from its traditional gambling licensing framework. The Prediction Market Regulations 2026 (LN.2026/176) came into force on 13 July 2026, made by the Minister with responsibility for gambling under sections 34 and 159 of the Gambling Act 2025. Operators, investors, and payment providers active in or considering entry into this fast-growing sector should take note of the framework’s key features and what it means in practice.

Crypto M&A transactions demand comprehensive due diligence beyond traditional legal and financial analysis, with regulatory compliance, tax reporting, governance, cybersecurity and licensing requirements emerging as critical value drivers. This leaflet examines ten essential areas that buyers, investors and crypto businesses must evaluate when preparing for or executing crypto M&A transactions in Europe, drawing on integrated law and tax expertise.