Series 6: Tech Law Standard Newsletter
Newsletter discussing AI regulation, data and privacy law, digital assets governance, and cyber law.
Welcome to the Series 6 round-up edition of Tech Law Standard. Tech laws are being reformed at an unprecedented pace. We make sure you are up-to-date on the latest laws and regulations.
Our subscribers include tech founders, entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, legal professionals, compliance officers, policy analysts, academics and tech investors.
In this newsletter series, there are many new developments in tech law that will excite you.
1️⃣ Law Reform: International Law Cannot Keep Up With Crypto Assets
The UK is undertaking a significant reform of outdated legal rules that impact cross-border disputes involving crypto, blockchain, and electronic trade documents. These digital assets are recognised across borders and there are no standalone rules that enable predictable mechanisms to resolve legal conflicts.
The Law Commission’s consultation paper makes it clear that we need legal certainty in choice of law when a dispute arises. Businesses need to know what laws will apply to their digital assets contracts. Investors need to know their rights will be protected and the courts need a clear jurisdictional roadmap.
2️⃣ Research Spotlight: LLM Legal Models Outperform General Model GPTs
A new research study just assessed how general AI models like GPT-4 compare with legal-specific AI models trained in law. The results? Fascinating, a little alarming, and very relevant for anyone curious about where legal tech is really heading. This paper explained what the researchers tested, how the models performed across tasks like judgment summaries and legal opinions, and why specialised training might be the secret weapon for legal AI.
The journal article noted that general-purpose LLMs like ChatGPT and GPT-4 can be impressive, but they often struggled with tasks such as legal judgment summarisation and classification.
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3️⃣ Law Reform: The Digital Future of European Courts
The European Commission is drafting a new strategy to bring courts into the digital age by 2030. These reforms will involve faster case hearings, fewer delays, smarter tools (e.g., AI) and less paperwork. The European Commission intends to fix outdated, expensive and slow justice systems.
The strategy builds on a clear political mandate. Commissioner McGrath has been tasked with aligning Europe’s justice systems with broader economic and competitiveness goals. These include the Draghi report, the AI Continent Action Plan, and President von der Leyen’s 2024–2029 Political Guidelines.
4️⃣ Policy Update: The New AI Law That Exposed Japan’s Deep Tech Anxiety
Japan has officially stepped into the AI policy arena with a new national law for artificial intelligence, but it is not what you might expect. Instead of standalone rules and penalties, the government is focusing on coordination, voluntary cooperation, and a cabinet-level strategy to boost innovation.
For instance, while the EU is regulating AI with rigid risk classifications, Japan is choosing a softer, promotion-first path. The goal appears to be to catch up with the EU and other countries who are currently ahead, eventually lead globally to avoid falling behind. But with low private investment and vague safeguards, the real test is just beginning.
5️⃣ Research Spotlight: AI Tech Wins, But Free Speech Loses
Big AI platforms say they support free speech, but the rules behind the scenes tell a different story. When politics, copyright law, and infrastructure power come together, it becomes nearly impossible for new voices to build alternatives.
This research spotlight is based on an article published by the UCLA Journal of Law and Technology. It looks at how tech giants influence what AI can say, and why even well-funded challengers keep hitting the same wall. If you care about free speech, politics, or the future of information, this post is worth your time.
6️⃣ Data Analysis: Why Only 1 in 5 Companies Focus on Fixing Cyberattacks
Cyber threats are getting smarter and so are the companies fighting them. But where exactly are business leaders putting their cybersecurity investment in 2025?
This newsletter breaks down the top five investment priorities, from data protection to employee training, and reveals a surprising mindset in cybersecurity investment. If you want to understand what today’s smartest organizations are doing differently to stay safe online, keep reading.
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