Out Now: The Collective Quarterly - Issue 02 2024

Anthropic's updated Acceptable Use Policy introduces significant changes for organisations building on Claude, extending far beyond the headline-grabbing prohibition on abusive behaviour towards the AI model. The policy now addresses deceptive campaigns, election interference, weapons development, surveillance systems, and requires human oversight for high-impact decisions affecting individuals' rights and wellbeing.

Some key takeaways from the Scottish Tech Industry Survey 2025.

The EU has introduced its first major amendment to the AI Act through the AI Omnibus regulation, which delays certain compliance deadlines while maintaining others. Organizations must understand which obligations remain on schedule, including transparency requirements and general-purpose AI provisions, and which have been deferred, such as high-risk AI system requirements.

Advertisers using AI-generated content face complex transparency requirements that vary significantly between the UK and EU. While UK law focuses on preventing consumer deception without explicit AI labelling mandates, the EU AI Act introduces strict disclosure obligations for 'deep fakes' that could catch even UK-based campaigns if they reach EU audiences.

The UK Government has introduced the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to address critical gaps in existing cyber security regulations, expanding coverage to data centres, managed service providers, and critical suppliers while granting regulators enhanced enforcement powers. With tightened incident reporting deadlines, turnover-based penalties up to £17 million, and mandatory supply chain resilience measures, organisations across essential services sectors must assess their readiness for compliance

As of 2 August 2026, the EU AI Act’s transparency obligations under Article 50 are now in effect, with one limited exception for providers of AI systems generating synthetic audio, image, video or text content that...

The European Commission has published its Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content, helping businesses to meet new transparency duties under the EU AI Act.

The National Cyber Security Centre emphasizes five critical areas requiring director-level attention: risk management, strategy, people, incident planning and response, and assurance oversight. Organizations must establish robust governance frameworks to address evolving cyber threats and ensure comprehensive resilience across their operations.

A recent ruling from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has paved the way for Celsius Network to continue its $4 billion lawsuit against stablecoin issuer Tether.

On 12 May, Anthropic launched Claude for Legal, marking a shift in the AI company’s positioning, from primarily powering legal AI products such as Harvey and Legora, towards potentially becoming a legal platform in its own right.

The UK Home Secretary has confirmed that the revised earned settlement policy will be published before the end of 2026, following her appearance before the Home Affairs Committee. This announcement provides clarity on the timeline for implementing significant changes to the UK immigration system, including transitional arrangements and the extension of the default settlement period from five to ten years.

The UK Home Office has introduced significant changes to its Immigration Rules, including new protections for Skilled Worker visa holders who are victims of modern slavery, measures to prevent abuse of fee waiver processes, and updates to support the UK's participation in Erasmus+ from January 2027. These changes also expand permitted activities for visitors coming to the UK for training or creative purposes.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive has unveiled sweeping employment law reforms in the 2026 Policy Address, introducing statutory protections for delivery workers, tightening imported labour controls, and accelerating MPF system changes. These measures reflect the Government's commitment to protecting local workers while addressing the challenges of an ageing workforce and evolving labour market dynamics.

As 2026 begins, Ireland's immigration system is entering a period of significant recalibration, with new remuneration thresholds for employment permits, tougher family reunification rules...

The UK government has announced significant changes to its immigration system in the Autumn 2026 budget, including modifications to Skilled Worker salary requirements, extended curtailment periods for highly skilled workers, and expansions to the High Potential Individual and Global Talent visa routes. These reforms aim to create Europe's most pro-business migration system for highly skilled workers while introducing new complexities around visa curtailment and graduate route permissions.

The Hong Kong Government has announced a 2.35% increase in the minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic workers, raising it from HK$5,100 to HK$5,220 per month effective October 2026. This adjustment follows the government's annual review considering economic performance, labour market conditions, and stakeholder input, with specific implementation timelines for new and existing employment contracts.

The UK consumer law landscape is undergoing rapid transformation as the CMA exercises its new direct enforcement powers under the DMCC Act 2024, with subscription contract regulations accelerated...

A Hong Kong director was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay HK$93,000 in outstanding wages after her companies failed to pay employees on time. The case demonstrates that corporate officers can face serious criminal liability, including fines up to HK$350,000 and three years' imprisonment, when employment law breaches occur with their consent, connivance, or neglect.

Hong Kong's debt recovery landscape has become increasingly challenging, with corporate insolvencies rising 45% in 2025 and bankruptcy petitions climbing to over 10,000. This comprehensive guide explores the legal pathways available to creditors, from initial demand letters to enforcement mechanisms, and examines when civil litigation versus insolvency proceedings may be the most effective strategy for recovering outstanding debts.

Lewis Silkin launches Lettu, an AI-powered platform designed to revolutionize how creators, talent managers, agencies and brands negotiate and finalize commercial deals.