Breaking Encryption Will Break More Than Privacy
In February 2025, it was reported that the United Kingdom (UK) Office of the Home Secretary served Apple with a technical capability notice (TCN), a secret legal order demanding that the company build a backdoor that enables access to content Apple users have uploaded to the cloud. The UK issued the notice under the UK Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which enables its law enforcement and intelligence agencies to obtain consumers’ data from technology companies in the course of [...]
The European Commission’s 2025 Work Programme: A Mixed Bag for SMEs
The European Commission has just released its 2025 Work Programme, outlining key initiatives to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and drive regulatory simplification. For independent app developers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), these changes could ease regulatory burdens, but some proposals raise concerns. ACT | The App Association strongly supports many of these initiatives, which align with our mission to foster innovation while ensuring a business-friendly environment. While the programme offers SMEs a lot of hope and support, one potential [...]
AfroTech 2024: Bridging Technology and Health Equity Policy
At AfroTech 2024, the Black Legislative Leaders Network (BLLN) convened a groundbreaking policy roundtable to explore how technology can help close systemic health disparities in underserved communities. With support from Linda Wilson, Fund II Foundation, Qualtrics, and Texas Southern University, the discussion reinforced AfroTech’s evolution into not just a conference but also a catalyst for innovation and action. As one of the largest gatherings of Black technologists and entrepreneurs, AfroTech is more than a space for networking; it’s a [...]
ACT | The App Association Urges the Council to Uphold the Proposed SEP Regulation
Yesterday, ACT | The App Association submitted a letter to the Council of the European Union, urging Member States to uphold their role in the legislative process by engaging in discussions on the Proposed Regulation on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). The European Commission’s recent request to withdraw the regulation, despite its broad support from the European Parliament and stakeholders, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), risks undermining innovation and fair competition in the EU. ‘At this critical moment for [...]