David O’Connor

David advises technology companies and other businesses on the evolving regulatory landscape for digital services and emerging technologies, including platform regulation, online safety, data protection and AI.

As a member of Cooley’s cyber/data/privacy team, David advises clients on a wide range of regulatory matters, including investigations, compliance strategy and regulatory engagement. He has experience supporting clients in responding to inquiries from European regulators, developing governance and risk assessment frameworks and advising on issues relating to content moderation, consumer protection and data protection. David also advises on regulatory issues affecting AI-driven products and services, particularly in the context of online platforms and frontier general-purpose AI models.

Before joining Cooley, David worked at a top Irish law firm and completed a secondment with a global technology company, where he advised on online safety and platform governance.

David is qualified to practice in Ireland and the UK.

David’s recent representations include:

• Advising global technology companies on compliance with the Digital Services Act and the Irish Online Safety Code, including developing governance and risk assessment frameworks*
• Supporting frontier AI company in developing safety and security frameworks under the EU AI Act and in preparing for regulatory engagement on online safety and election integrity matters*
• Assisting technology and financial services companies in responding to Section 110 investigations by the Irish Data Protection Commission*
• Acting for ecommerce provider and other online platforms in contentious engagements with European consumer protection authorities and health product regulators*
• Assisting 100+ organisations with data-related incidents, including assessing the severity of a data breach, notifying relevant data protection authorities and financial regulators and representing clients before relevant parties*

* Representation handled before joining Cooley