The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) authorised telecom service providers to increase retail service prices by up to 50%. The NCC’s aim is to address rising operational costs in the telecoms sector while protecting consumer interests. This Global Trends Flash discusses how retail price regulation in the telecoms sector is helping operators cope with both inflation and downward pressure on revenues around the world.

Many countries in the Americas are concerned about implementing age assurance standards. National age assurance frameworks coexist with regional and international initiatives to protect minors from online privacy risks. This flash summarises several of these initiatives.

The government of India (GoI) is consulting until 18 February 2025 on draft implementing rules for its Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023. The DPDP Act is not yet in force. The GoI expects the draft rules to be rolled out by mid-2025, but businesses will be given two years to fully comply. This Global Trends flash summarises the key aspects of the proposed rules in conjunction with the DPDP Act. The upcoming implementation of the DPDP Act and its regulations will affect many international businesses due to India's status as the world's most populous country and its growing role in the global digital economy.

The lower house of Malaysia’s Parliament voted in support of the Online Safety Bill 2024 (OSB), which now moves to the upper house for approval. The OSB aims to ensure that scams, online gambling, cyberbullying and sexual crimes against children are addressed more comprehensively, as these are rapidly moving to social media. This Global Trends flash summarises the key elements of the OSB, which parallels recent efforts by governments across Asia-Pacifc (e.g. Australia and Vietnam).

In December 2024 the Australian government published a proposal paper on a new digital competition regime for digital platforms. It adds Australia to the list of jurisdictions that already have or are in the process of implementing ex-ante regulation targeted at digital platforms. This Global Trends flash summarises the key elements of this proposal and where it stands in a broader context of platform regulation.

The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) hosted a webinar exploring the potential implications of the 2024 US election results for transatlantic relations. This Global Trends Flash covers the key issues discussed during this event, including the impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration on technological transitions, social media regulation, EU climate policies, trade. Insights from this timely discussion are crucial for future EU-US cooperation, EPRS noted.