Ad tech in the UK – data use, tackling harm, and latest regulatory and market developments

This conference which will discuss latest thinking on the regulation and use of ad tech in the UK.

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from DCMS; DIT; HMRC; the CMA; the Cabinet Office; the ICO; the IPO; Ofcom; the Home Office and DHSC.

Relevant developments at a glance:

Fix ‘dysfunctional’ online ads market – recommendations from the Lords Communications and Digital Committee in their report on the future of journalism calling for a system that would require platforms such as Google and Facebook to pay news outlets for use of their content
Facebook to pay UK media millions to license news stories – Guardian reporting the social network reacting to a threatened government crackdown over dominance of online advertising
the Digital Markets Unit – within the CMA working with Ofcom and the ICO on developing and implementing a new statutory code on consumer data and publisher/online platform relationships
following DCMS’s Online advertising – call for evidence; the Online Harms White Paper; the CMA’s Online platforms and digital advertising market study; the ICO Adtech update report; and the ASA’s More Impact Online strategy for 2019-2023
“Powerful tech giants have trampled on UK businesses for long enough” – Secretary of State Oliver Dowden writes article for the Telegraph in which he outlines the new roles of the Digital Markets Unit, and states ‘The Government can be pro-tech without supporting Silicon Valley monopolies in the UK’
CDEI publishes review into bias in algorithmic decision-making – recommending:
a mandatory transparency obligation for public sector organisations using decision-making algorithms
that organisations should think how they can make sure individuals are treated fairly, and use data to identify and tackle bias
application by government of the Equality Act in relation to algorithmic decisions, and an offer of guidance on the legal aspects of collecting data to mitigate bias
the National Data Strategy – from DCMS, aiming to support the use of data in the UK and The future of citizen data systems, the Foresight report which fed into the Strategy and called in part for the UK to take a holistic approach to data system management
Proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Code and the Code on the Scheduling of Television Advertising – Ofcom consulting on implementing AVMS provisions going forward
the recently agreed Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU – which outlines plans for the UK’s future relationship with the EU and includes data protection purposes, a transition period of up to six months to enable the European Commission to complete its adequacy assessment of the UK’s data protection system

The agenda:

Ad tech – the market and emerging trends
Distribution and utilisation of data – key issues and developments in real-time bidding, the use of cookies, and transfers of data between organisations
Online advertising regulation going forward – the progress of the ASA’s More Impact Online strategy
Data use, regulation and innovation – content and ad targeting, transparency and responding to regulatory concerns, and supporting opportunities for growth
Policy and regulation across Europe – the impact of the Digital Services Act, AVMSD enforcement framework and New Consumer Agenda

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from the DCMS; DHSC; the Department for International Trade; HM Revenue and Customs; the Competition and Markets Authority; the Cabinet Office; the Information Commissioner’s Office; the Intellectual Property Office; Ofcom; and the Home Office.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as from digital advertising agencies, adtech and martech companies, digital platforms and online businesses, consumer technology companies, software and app developers, data analytics and data handling organisations, companies involved in the development of new technologies such as AI, cyber security and data protection companies, the technology and telecoms industries, organisations and individuals representing the views of consumers and citizens, regulators, together with reporters from the national and specialist media.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks – you’ll also get a full recording and transcript to refer back to
information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates – we’ll provide full details)
opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
networking too – there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact – we’ll tell you how!