Analysis | Digital Watch Observatory

16 Apr 2024

Digital dominance in the 2024 elections

Digital technologies, particularly AI, have been integral to all stages of the electoral process for several years now. What distinguishes the current landscape is their unprecedented scale and impact.

3 Apr 2024

(Jail) time ahead for the cryptocurrency industry

These particular developments can be seen as a desire of regulators worldwide to set legal practice around the new class of digital assets, and send a message to the ever-growing base of consumers of such products that they will be protected while entering this new arena.

28 Mar 2024

OEWG’s seventh substantive session: the highlights

The UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025 held its seventh substantive session in March 2024. The group discussed threats, norms, international law, confidence building measures, capacity building, and regular institutional dialogue.

7 Mar 2024

Decision postponed on the Cybercrime Convention: What you should know about the latest session of the UN negotiations

The concluding session of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime ended but consensus to draft a cybercrime convention has not been reached. Therefore, it was decided that an additional session will be held. In the meantime, where have states not agreed and why?

29 Jan 2024

The perfect cryptostorm

We watched the new Netflix documentary ‘Bitconned’ on cryptocurrency industry fraud. Read what were the ingredients to create such a perfect storm for victims. Unfortunately, that storm took a high toll, in both trust to the industry and financial losses.

26 Jan 2024

The intellectual property saga: AI’s impact on trade secrets and trademarks | Part 2

In continuing the three-part series on AI’s influence on intellectual property, the first part discussed the complexities of copyrighting AI-generated content, noting the challenges of traditional laws in ownership. The second section will explore AI’s impact on trade secrets and trademarks in the EU and US legal frameworks.

9 Jan 2024

AI industry faces threat of copyright law in 2024

The AI sector in 2024 is at a crossroads with existing copyright laws, particularly in the US. The legal system’s reaction to these challenges will be critical in striking the correct balance between preserving creators’ rights and promoting AI innovation and progress.

30 Oct 2023

The intellectual property saga: The age of AI-generated content | Part 1

Patent authorities globally are grappling with the challenge of redefining their approach to handling inventions generated not by human ingenuity but by AI. It has sparked considerable debate within the intellectual property community. This analysis initiates a three-part series that delves into the influence of AI on intellectual property rights.

13 Sep 2023

Key takeaways from the sixth UN session on cybercrime treaty negotiations

The 6th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime finished its work, and one final round of inter-state negotiations is left. Is there a treaty text yet, and are states close to a final agreement?

12 Sep 2023

5G Transformation: The power of good policy

From South Korea’s spectrum leadership to the EU’s harmonisation and Africa’s context-specific solutions, each of these approaches underscores the link between policies and 5G’s potential. These efforts are indispensable to foster optimal policies for future development.