The ODPA’s monthly round-up of data-related developments from around the world.
1 March - The Government of Jersey has published an interim review of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011: Interim Review of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 Consultation Feedback Report.pdf
3 March - The data protection authorities of Morocco and Portugal signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize cooperation, chiefly on artificial intelligence, deepfakes and digital violence: Morocco, Portugal Formalize Data Protection Cooperation Amid AI Surge - We are Tech
5 March - The Australian Government has dropped controversial Freedom of Information reforms, a decision which was welcomed by the Centre for Public Integrity: Withdrawal of FOI Amendment Bill must mark the start of genuine reform - The Centre for Public Integrity
9 March - The UK House of Commons voted to reject an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s and have instead backed flexible ministerial powers. MPs reject call for under-16s social media ban, backing more flexible powers - BBC News
10 March - Scotland’s Information Commissioner criticises “unusual case handling practices” by the Scottish Government: “Preposterous excuses” given for latest Scottish Government non-compliance | Scottish Information Commissioner
12 March - The above story was picked up by the BBC who reported that the Scottish government is being threatened with further legal action by the information commissioner over the release of documents about an ethics investigation into Nicola Sturgeon. David Hamilton said he could no longer trust the government to handle some files "unsupervised" after being given "preposterous and unacceptable" excuses for not complying with his orders: Watchdog says he 'can't trust ministers' with Sturgeon inquiry files - BBC News
12 March - The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office fines Police Scotland for serious data mishandling: Police Scotland fined £66k and reprimanded following serious data mishandling | ICO
12 March - South Korea revealed an overhauling of their Personal Information Privacy Act (PIPA) reflecting the regulator’s views that larger fines are needed to change corporate behaviour: South Korea overhauls PIPA and ties fines to CEO accountability | IAPP
13 March - Amazon won its appeal against a record €746 million fine imposed by Luxembourg’s privacy regulator, after a court found the watchdog must reassess the 2021 case against its behavioural advertising practices, saying its processing of users' personal data breached the GDPR: Win for Amazon as Luxembourg court scraps record $854 million privacy fine | Reuters
16 March - The BBC reports how organisations worldwide are racing to develop a universally recognised label for "human-made" products and services as part of the growing backlash against AI use. Is this product 'human made'? The race to establish AI-free logo - BBC News
16 March - Social media giants made decisions which allowed more harmful content on people's feeds, after internal research into their algorithms showed how outrage fueled engagement, whistleblowers have told the BBC: Meta and TikTok let harmful content rise after evidence outrage drove engagement - whistleblowers - BBC News
20 March - The U.S. presidential administration unveiled its proposals and desires for how federal AI regulations should be shaped. Children's online safety, preemption highlight White House's AI policy recommendations | IAPP
25 March - A New Mexico jury found Meta Platforms violated state consumer protection law by misleading users about teen safety and designing its platforms in ways that put young users at risk, awarding the state $375 million in civil penalties. Meta faces $375m penalty as jury finds liability in N.M. social media trial | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
25 March - Parents and campaign groups seeking tighter restrictions on social media have welcomed a Los Angeles jury handing down an unprecedented win for a young woman who sued Meta and YouTube over her childhood addiction to social media. Jurors found that Meta and Google intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed the 20-year old's mental health: Meta and YouTube found liable in social media addiction trial - BBC News
26 March - A jury in LA has delivered a damning verdict for two of the world's most popular digital platforms, Instagram and YouTube. It ruled those apps are addictive and deliberately engineered that way – and that its owners have been negligent in their safeguarding of the children who have used them: What next for big tech after landmark social media addiction verdict? - BBC News
26 March - The European Commission has opened a Digital Services Act (DSA) investigation into social messaging platform Snapchat, citing suspected grooming risks and other child safety concerns: Commission opens child grooming and safety probe of Snapchat | Euractiv
31 March - The Australian government has accused big tech firms like Meta, TikTok and Google of disobeying the landmark ban on under-16s using social media: Meta, TikTok and Google under investigation for allegedly disobeying Australia’s social media ban | Social media ban | The Guardian