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LTS Public engagement

The Law, Technology and Society group is at the forefront of policy development and civil society

The Law, Technology and Society group is at the forefront of policy development and civil society. Our researchers do not only conduct academic research addressed to an academic audience. We engage with policymakers, civil society groups and multilateral processes through policy papers, briefings, evidence and consultancies.

A number of the group members have recently advised or given evidence to UK government inquiries and calls for evidence. Dr. Orla Lynskey gave evidence to the House of Lords Communications Committee Inquiry “The Internet to regulate or not to regulate”, while Professor Andrew Murray was the Special Advisor to the same inquiry. Professor Murray also gave evidence to the Commission on Justice in Wales on the subject of Legal Technologies (LawTech) in practice and education. Dr. Tatiana Cutts was an academic consultee for the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce of the LawTech Delivery Panel (public consultation on Cryptoassets, DLT and smart contracts) while Professor Andrew Murray is a member of the LawTech Delivery Panel and Regulatory Action Taskforce. Dr Siva Thambisetty is an Advisor to the Pacific Small Island Developing Countries and a member of the High Level Panel’s Group of Experts on a Sustainable Ocean Economy.

Members of the Law, Technology and Society Group frequently give lectures and addresses. They have recently spoken to groups including Ministry of Justice, the High Court and the Judicial College, the Royal Institution, the Annual ICA Conference, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the WHO Action Network on Reducing Marketing Pressure on Children, the International Conference of Privacy and Data Protection Commissioners, the Financial Conduct Authority, NESTA, and the RegTechTalents conference. Members have also given invited talks and evidence to the European Data Protection Supervisor, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Central Bank, the Information Commissioners Office, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority.

Group members also blog, with Professor Pablo Ibanez Colomo editing the Chilling Competition blog, and Dr. Philipp Paech publishing the Blockchain Regulation blog.  Professor  Pablo Ibanez Colomo is co-organiser of the Chilling Competition conference. Group members have given keynotes lectures and addresses at over twenty conferences and workshops over the past three years. In 2019 we have hosted a number of guests and speakers including Professor Richard Susskind and former Law Society of England and Wales President Christina Blacklaws who discussed the future of the profession. 

Policy papers published by group members include “A Contribution to Shaping Competition Policy in the Era of Digitisation” by Professor Pablo Ibanez Colomo; “Rethinking Regulation for the Digital Environment” by Professor Andrew Murray; “Regulatory Technology - Eight Policy Recommendations” by Dr. Eva Micheler; “Crypto-Property” by Dr. Tatiana Cutts; and “Marine Genetic Resources Beyond National Jurisdiction: Elements of an International Legally Binding Instrument” by Dr Siva Thambisetty