Digital technology and rapid development at the heart of the biannual meeting of independent administrative and public authorities working in the economic field

On November 27, 2023, Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani, Chairman of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), welcomed the chairmen, secretaries and managing directors of the independent administrative and public authorities (AAI and API) involved in the economic field. This biannual meeting is an opportunity to share thoughts and experiences on common regulatory challenges.

During these exchanges, representatives of the Competition Authority, the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication (ARCEP), the French regulatory authority for postal services and press distribution (ARCOM), the French regulatory authority for transport (ART), the French regulatory authority for energy (CRE), the Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL), the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), the Haut conseil du Commissariat aux comptes (H3C) and the AMF addressed the theme of regulation in the face of emerging technologies, digital technology and artificial intelligence, presenting concrete cases that they are facing in their respective fields.

The European regulation on digital services, due to be adopted in July 2022, and the draft legislation aimed at securing and regulating the digital space, for which discussions are nearing completion in the French Parliament, were also among the topics addressed. These texts will be synonymous with new missions for some of the authorities, in particular for the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication (ARCOM) and the French regulatory authority for electronic communications, post and press distribution (ARCEP), sometimes with overlapping competencies.

This latest meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the regulation of monetizable digital object games, which the draft legislation confers on the National Gaming Authority (ANJ). These are online games in which players are offered the opportunity to purchase digital objects, which are necessary for participation and increase in the game, and which present a number of risks (notably gambling by persons under 18, excessive gambling and money laundering) that need to be prevented and controlled.

The authorities discussed the implications of the draft European regulation on artificial intelligence, and agreed to study together the uses of artificial intelligence in their institutions.

Finally, the authorities intend to strengthen their expertise and appeal by promoting the mobility of their staff within the various authorities. They welcomed the initiative of the inter-AAI-API mobility forum, which took place on October 19, and welcomed nearly 200 agents who came to find out more about the jobs and positions available within the 18 authorities represented.