Yours Lawfully Podcast

Alexa, am I being watched?

“If our devices are always listening, how much are they really hearing, and who else might be listening too?”In 2018, a smart speaker recorded a private conversation and sent it to a third party, no hacking, no warning. Incidents like this force us to confront whether our homes are purely private spaces. As voice-enabled devices become embedded into daily life, the line between convenience and privacy grows increasingly fragile.In this episode of Yours Lawfully, produced by qLegal for the TMT Institute, we are joined by Nimet Karaca, Legal Counsel at Ocado Group and a qualified solicitor in England and Wales who has also practised law in Turkey. With this international legal background, Nimet brings a unique perspective and takes us behind the scenes of how smart-home devices are designed, how wake-word detection and cloud processing function and meaningful consent.Together, we explore voice-enabled devices, the privacy implications for guests and bystanders, the limits of the household exemption under data protection law, and current regulations.As smart technology becomes ambient, invisible, and deeply integrated into domestic life, we ask a fundamental question: Are we trading privacy for convenience more than we realise?

Why Student Visas make Headlines

There is growing uncertainty around what studying in the UK really offers international students today. With visa rules tightening, costs rising, and political rhetoric becoming increasingly hostile, many students are left questioning their future long-term after graduating from U.K. institutions.In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore why student visas have become such a charged issue in the UK. Joined by Dr Mihnea Cuibus from the Oxford Migration Observatory, we look beyond the headlines to understand what the data actually tells us about student migration. Our conversation covers post-Brexit visa reforms, cross-party support for restricting student numbers, the lasting impact of the pandemic, and why international students so often find themselves at the centre of the public and media debate.

Dupe Culture and IP

‘There’s a historic perception that people who buy the lower price dupe were never going to buy the branded product anyway’  Whether you’re chronically online or a staunch high street shopper, you are bound to have encountered a dupe. They have become an unavoidable aspect of shopping, with many consumers being actively praised for finding them. Navigating them in the context of intellectual property law has proven to be challenging, with the rise of social media accelerating the need for it to keep up.   In this episode, which was produced by qLegal for the TMT institute, we are joined by Deniz Toker, a Trademark Associate, and Kerri Ann Hazzard, a Senior Trademark Attorney, both at Baker McKenzie. In our conversation, Toker and Hazzard discuss how dupe culture emerged, social media’s influence on dupe culture, changing consumer behaviour and psychology, and what IP avenues brands can use to take action against dupes.  

Connecting the Dots: Legal and Social Implications of 5G and Edge Computing

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore the legal and social implications of 5G and edge computing - two technologies reshaping how we connect and communicate. From intellectual property battles over FRAND licensing to complex questions of data ownership in edge environments, our discussion highlights the challenges at the intersection of law, technology, and society. We also examine pressing issues of regulation, cybersecurity, and global rollout, including lessons from past controversies like the Huawei ban. Join us as we connect the dots between innovation and responsibility in the rapidly evolving world of 5G and beyond. 

Tech for Tomorrow: Navigating Sustainablity in the Telecom Industry

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore how the telecom industry is navigating the growing demand for sustainability in a fast-changing regulatory environment. With guest Jackie Esono, Regulatory Advisor at Wiggin, we discuss the policies and directives driving energy efficiency, renewable adoption, and Environmental, Social, Governance transparency. From compliance with frameworks like the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive to the risks of greenwashing and non-compliance, we unpack the legal pressures shaping telecom’s future. Join us as we examine how regulation, accountability, and innovation intersect to build a greener, more responsible telecom industry.