Topic: Data

The video gaming industry is an alluring target for cyber criminals. In response, regulators in various jurisdictions have sought to bring video gaming into scope of critical infrastructure legislation or have adopted sector-specific rules.

Once considered a niche segment within real estate and infrastructure, data centres have rapidly matured into a fully established asset class in their own right, driven by their role as critical digital infrastructure.

Opt-out signals are now a cornerstone of modern privacy. These browser-based or device-level mechanisms tell companies not to ”sell” or “share” personal data to third parties.

The financial services sector is becoming increasingly reliant on cloud service providers (CSPs) to fulfil its growing data processing and storage needs. Financial services providers in the United States have reportedly had the highest levels of adoption, operating 54 percent of their workloads in the cloud; and according to the European Central Bank, banks spent 13.5 percent more on cloud outsourcing in 2024 than in 2023.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) is currently consulting on its draft guidelines on the sound management of third party risk (Draft Guidelines), which are intended to replace the 2019 guidelines on outsourcing arrangements (2019 Guidelines).

Financial regulators globally emphasise the importance of financial entities being operationally resilient, which includes the ability to manage and recover from disruptions caused by their service providers. The topic receives significant attention in the financial services sector because the sector is regulated, with the aim of promoting financial system stability.

Most incidents handled by our Norton Rose Fulbright cyber team originate from the customer’s service provider. In many cases it is the service provider’s systems, infrastructure and environment which proves to be the most vulnerable to cyber breaches and security issues.

Businesses investing in, financing or operating data centres face a complex matrix of laws and regulatory requirements. Ensuring compliance is important for lender and investor due diligence and is crucial to avoiding fines, penalties and contractual or regulatory breaches that can significantly impact the business and any investment in, or financing of, data centres.

Please join us at our 12th Annual European Data Protection Conference.

The Government of Ontario recently introduced the Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, 2024 (Bill 194) seeking to strengthen cybersecurity programs in the public sector and provide the groundwork for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) among various public sector entities. If passed, Bill 194 will enact the Enhancing Digital Security and Trust Act, 2024 (the Act) and significantly amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).