s4safe, s4software
background photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
Since I attended FOSDEM, I've been diving deep into the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the Product Liability Directive (PLD), especially through the lens of the open-source community and UNICEF’s Office of Innovation. These topics are hot in discussions and luckily, they’re seen in a good light. I’ve gathered some insights on how these laws intersect with open-source values and UNICEF's broader goals. It's clear that understanding these intersections is key as we navigate the changing world of digital products and services - this is crucial for the startups we support.
A Look at Product Liability and Safety in 2023
Last year, the UK and the EU made some big strides in product liability and safety laws. These changes are all about keeping up with our digital world while making sure consumers stay protected.
The UK's updates to its laws after leaving the EU turned out to be more "light-weight" than we thought they’d be. One interesting move was keeping CE markings for certain products. This means businesses have some wiggle room in showing their products meet safety standards, though it's still a bit foggy how this will play out if UK and EU standards begin to drift apart.
Then there's the Windsor Framework, a big step towards making trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain smoother post-Brexit. It aims to ease some of the trading challenges businesses have been facing.
At the same time, the UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) kicked off a public consultation to update the country's product safety rules. This could lead to new ways of doing things that better fit today's tech advancements, showing the UK’s eagerness to back innovation while keeping products safe.
Over in the EU, there's been a push to modernize regulations too, with the new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). This targets the digital side of shopping and the challenges new business models bring, extending responsibilities to online marketplaces and delivery services.
Also, the EU made a big move by updating the Product Liability Directive (PLD) to cover digital products and content. This is a game-changer, making it easier for consumers to get compensated for issues with digital goods and tech like AI.
what's next
As we step into the future, it looks like the UK and EU might head in different directions with their regulations, which could complicate things for businesses working in both areas. But, these changes also mean better protection for consumers and more room for new ideas.
2023 set the stage for some major updates in how we handle product liability and safety. Both the UK and EU are aiming to make sure consumers are safe in our digital age. Keeping up with these changes will be key for everyone involved, from big companies to startups we're helping grow. Whatever happens, I will be here, observing, learning, hoping that soon India will also take a dive in better software regulation for its citizens.