Public postal service meaning

In this issue: New technologies Internet Media Advertising, marketing and sponsorship Telecommunications Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information New technologies Commission issues guidelines on EU AI Act obligations for general-purpose AI models On 18 July 2025, the European Commission issued guidelines clarifying how obligations apply to providers of GPAI models under the EU AI Act. Published in advance of the GPAI model rules taking effect on 2 August 2025, they are intended to spell out in detail what providers must do under the law. While not legally binding, the guidelines reflect the Commission’s reading and intended application of the Act, which will inform its enforcement approach. They also sit alongside the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice that independent experts submitted to the Commission on 10 July. See News Analysis: AI developers, users see EU’s guidelines on general-purpose AI models and LNB News 18/07/2025...

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk branded the Horizon affair an ‘appalling miscarriage of justice’. Kevin Hollinrake, the minister responsible for postal services, said the ITV drama, ‘Mr Bates vs the Post Office’, has only strengthened the government’s determination to see justice delivered as swiftly as possible. The mini-series offers a fictionalised portrayal of the ordeal faced by hundreds of branch managers who were unjustly prosecuted on the basis of the defective Horizon accounting system between 1999 and 2015. Addressing Parliament on the evening of 8 January 2024, Hollinrake explained that the government had ‘devised’ options to settle the remaining convictions, but that consultation with senior members of the judiciary was required before any announcement could be made. He stressed that it is vital “we get to the bottom of what went wrong, of who knew what, and when” to rebuild public confidence in the postal service and in the British justice system. While acknowledging the sheer scale of the issue, he added that the government remains unwavering in its resolve to...

State aid The Commission has cleared, under the EU State aid rules, the following measures: an Italian scheme (valued at €41.5m) in favour of Ephos S.r.l., an Italian SME, to establish a first-of-its-kind manufacturing plant for glass-based photonic chips in the Milan area—see further, Midday Express a Czech measure (amounting to €60m annually) to compensate the postal operator Czech Post for the provision of a public service obligation in Czechia over 2025–2029—see further, Midday Express NOTE—For all live State aid decisions and live formal State aid investigations, see further, EU State aid decisions—ongoing cases tracker Antitrust The Commission has published the public version of its decision in Food delivery services (AT.40795), by which it imposed fines totalling €329m on Delivery Hero and Glovo for their participation in a cartel in the online food delivery sector—see further, decision NOTE—For all live behavioural investigations before the Commission, see further, EU behavioural investigations—ongoing cases tracker Upcoming dates For dates of...

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is no longer maintained. For guidance on the acquisition, retention and disclosure of communications data under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA 2016), see Practice Note: Acquisition, retention and disclosure of communications data under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. IPA 2016 sets the current legal framework for public authorities’ use of covert surveillance. Much—though not all—of this regime previously appeared in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA 2000). The rules on retaining communications data are contained in IPA 2016, Pt 4. Part 4 permits telecommunications and postal operators to retain communications data so that, where authorised under IPA 2016, public authorities can access it subsequently. For more on IPA 2016, see Practice Note: The regulation of intelligence gathering—an introductory guide. Powers to require retention of certain types of data Under IPA 2016, s 87, the Secretary of State may give a retention notice requiring a telecommunications operator to keep ‘relevant communications data’, provided that at least one of...

CASE HUB NOTE-appeal lodged before the Court of Justice in Case C- 442/21 ARCHIVED This archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the judgment of 5 May 2021; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline... Case facts Outline An action for annulment was brought before the General Court against the European Commission’s decision of 28 May 2018, which found that Denmark’s compensation to Post Danmark for fulfilling its public postal service duty during 2017–2019 complied with the State aid rules (SA.47707)... Latest developments On 5 May 2021, the General Court delivered its judgment, partially upholding the appeal by concluding that the VAT exemption and the capital increase of 23 February 2017 did not amount to State aid... Parties Applicants: ITD Danske Fragtmænd (ITD) Danske Fragtmænd A/S (DF) Defendant: European Commission (Commission) ITD is a trade association under Danish law whose members are active on national...