This year will witness a significant rise in digital regulation and enforcement. As AI reshapes business strategies and legal frameworks, privacy and cybersecurity laws are expanding, and child online safety is gaining increased attention. Factors such as decarbonization, delayering, and the demand for enhanced connectivity are influencing deal-making and investment in digital infrastructure. The convergence of rapid legal developments, technological advances, and geopolitical uncertainties will present both complex challenges and new opportunities.

Here are five key trends in AI, data, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies that will shape 2024:

Devika Kornbacher, Co-Chair of Clifford Chance Global Tech Group, notes: "The protection of children from digital harm is increasingly in the spotlight. There is broad agreement on the necessity of such protection, but significant debate about its implementation. In the US, the legal framework is evolving at both federal and state levels. More organizations will need to navigate practical issues related to age verification, parental consent, and data collection, amid a complex web of regulations."

Jonathan Kewley, Co-Chair of Clifford Chance Global Tech Group, adds: "AI and deepfakes could have a profound impact on the 2024 global election cycle, with half of the world heading to the polls. Governments, regulators, and tech companies will face the dual challenge of ensuring trust and safety while harnessing AI’s vast potential in areas such as drug discovery, public service delivery, and overall economic innovation."