We are still recovering from the 4th edition of #VivaTech Paris which was held from May 16 to 18 2019 at Porte de Versailles where #LegalUPConsulting was on deck. #VivaTech is an event dedicated to innovation that brings together actors from different parts of the world and different sectors who are just as passionate about technology as LegalUP Consulting.
The event was sponsored by numerous brands and had over 124000 people attended coming from over 124 countries. 13000 startups were also present to showcase their innovation to the over 3300 investors present.
#LegalUPConsulting was elated to listen to key speakers like #PresidentMacron himself, #PresidentKagame, Prime Minister #JustinTrudeau, #JackMa, #GarryKasparov, #MargretheVestager amongst others who spoke on a variety of issues including the role of regulation and data protection/privacy in innovation. The coming into force of the GDPR in 2018 was received skeptically by businesses operating in tech who believe that the bulky regulations are the number one reason why Europe is lagging behind its counterparts in the US or China in terms of tech unicorns. This could be seen from the fact that representatives from other continents were tech stars like #JackMa and #GinniRometty meanwhile Europe’s biggest figures were #PresidentMacron and #MargretheVestager.
We also noticed the striking difference between the stands held by global tech powers such as #Google #Huawei #IBM #Microsoft #Samsung as compared to French tech driven by old economy firms such as utility providers like #Engie and #EDF or transport operators like #SNCF and #RATPGroup. #PresidentMacron admitted that regulation had a huge role to play in all this, not only as concerns users’ rights but also when it came to the absence of a digital single market and fragmented policies in terms of licensing from country to country, as well as friendly tax policies in other continents that lead to brain drain. At #LegalUPConsulting, we definitely believe in regulation that balances user protection & pushing tech.
( Photo Credit: Philippe LOPEZ/AFP )
We also had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with some of the speakers on our shared interest in innovation and the evolution of the regulatory framework in data protection and privacy that affects their businesses directly. The issue of privacy in AI and blockchain is one that garnered a lot of interest at this year’s edition of the tech summit.
#LegalUPConsulting believes in the ability of artificial intelligence and other tech such as #blockchain to revolutionise societies in positive ways. As a law firm that is passionate about innovation, we are concerned about achieving a balance between business, innovation and regulation in a way that balances users’ rights and allows tech to improve. This is why we continue to lobby for more industry-driven initiatives that aim to obtain the trust of users and demonstrate the respect for users’ privacy. Innovators have to acknowledge the potential risk of these new technologies to negatively impact human rights and particularly the right to privacy. As a law firm working on Data Protection and Privacy, we believe that through local, regional and eventually global industry initiatives, regulation can be used to influence tech evolution and not stifle it as many seem to think now. Innovation which is seen as inherently intrusive frightens users and is not sustainable for tech. This is why creators should adopt a long term vision for innovation by placing themselves in the shoes of regular consumers who do not necessarily understand the algorithms behind the creation of these new technologies, but wish to benefit from them without feeling that their privacy was violated to process data. We believe that users want two things out of tech today; #Transparency ( which is not just truthful information, but ALL information) and #Control ( to be able to consent and withdraw consent freely). This, to us should be the long term vision of innovation and why innovators themselves should push for binding global codes of conduct to show their commitment to safer internet use for all.
#VivaTech2019 was also a lot of fun. We had the pleasure of discovering the tech evolution that was happening in other parts of the world at the #Africatech and #Tech4Good stands and how people were using technology to transform lives. We met techpreneurs from all over the world and tried a lot of fun robots. It was an incredible experience and networking opportunity and we look forward to collaborating and developing future partnerships with some of the great people we met who believe as much as us in the power of technology to transform business and society positively.
The LegalUP Consulting team
www.legalupconsulting.com