Digest: Outsmart Calls for Governmental Intervention in OOH; UK to Ease Digital Tax on US Tech Groups?

In today's Digest, we look at Outsmart's plea to the UK Government to intervene in the OOH sector, the UK Government considering changes to its taxes on big Tech firms and the British public's support for AI laws.

Outsmart Calls on Governmental Intervention in OOH Sector

The UK trade body for out of home (OOH) advertising, Outsmart, has urged the government to implement reforms to boost the sector. Suggested recommendations included removing business rates on social infrastructure and extending express planning consents from five years to ten years. Despite a 7.7% growth in OOH investment, reaching £1.4 billion in ad revenue in 2024, its share of total UK ad spend has remained stagnant post-Covid-19. 

The recommendations are outlined in a newly published report addressing barriers to OOH expansion. Outsmart argues that eliminating business rates on social infrastructure would allow media owners to reinvest in public spaces, benefiting local communities while also simplifying financial processes for councils.

UK to Ease Digital Tax on US Tech Groups?

The UK government is considering changes to its taxes on big tech firms. This forms part of an effort to secure a deal with the US Government and avoid President Donald Trump's next raft of tariffs, Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested. According to Chancellor Reeves, talks are ‘ongoing’ about tweaks to the Digital Services Tax (DST), which affects global tech giants like Amazon and Meta. She indicated these discussions included adjusting the 2% levy on Amazon and Meta, which raises around £800m annually.

British Public Demands AI Laws, Survey Finds

A survey by the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Alan Turing Institute reveals that 72% of the British public support new laws regulating AI. According to the survey, the public are more concerned with the use of their data and representation in AI decision-making. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported experiences of AI-related harms including misinformation, deepfakes, and financial fraud.

Although AI regulation was referenced in the King’s Speech, where the government pledged to explore legislative measures for powerful AI models, concrete policy action remains uncertain.