Former Google executive raises concerns about tech giant’s human rights policies
Ross LaJeunesse, a former Google executive has expressed his concerns about the human rights policies that the firm follows as it moves to expand into China and other countries where civil and human rights...
Johnson says Huawei critics should suggest alternatives
British PM Boris Johnson said that opponents of Chinese tech company Huawei should suggest alternatives.
The comment comes as US officials arrived in Britain to push for Huawei’s 5G ban, as Johnson’s government prepares to...
Commissioner urges EU to build up its digital sector
The European Union’s Commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton, said that, in order to not fall behind on its rivals, Europe needs to help its companies with their production and management of industrial...
UK Security Service ‘not worried’ about Huawei impact on intelligence sharing
Andrew Parker, the chief of the UK Security Service - MI5, said in an interview that he had 'no reason to think' the intelligence partnership with the US would suffer if ministers allow involvement...
Facebook, eBay to crack down on fake reviews
Britain’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority, said that, after it had warned them, Facebook and eBay pledged to remove accounts, pages and groups involved in the trade of fake reviews.
“We’re pleased that...
Google sued for infringing patents
The American consumer electronics company Sonos is suing Google for patent infringement.
The company announced it filed a lawsuit on 7 January. It says Google used their technology to make smart speakers with multiroom music...
Poland prepares for 5G launch
Poland's mobile operator Play Communications announced it is planning to launch a 5G network in the northern city of Gdynia.
“What we are announcing today is definitely the opening of the first 5G city in...
Ryanair prepared for further 737 MAX delays
Ryanair is prepared for further delays to the delivery of its Boeing 737 Max airliners, its chief executive Michael O’Leary said in an interview.
O’Leary said that he will be lucky to see any by...
Google to end controversial Dutch, Irish tax scheme
Google’s parent company Alphabet will stop using an intellectual property licensing scheme, known as the “Double Irish, Dutch sandwich”, which allowed it to delay paying US taxes.
“We’re now simplifying our corporate structure and will...
Microsoft says North Korea-based hackers stole sensitive information
Tech giant Microsoft said on 30 December it won a court order that allowed it to take control of 50 websites a hacking group was using to carry out cyberattacks.
The group is called “Thallium”,...
Ex-Nissan chief flees Japan for Lebanon
Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has announced he is in Lebanon after he suddenly left Japan, where he faces trial on charges of financial misconduct.
"I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be...
Huawei’s sales grow despite US sanctions
Despite the US sanctions imposed on the company, Huawei's revenue grew around 18% in 2019 to more than 850 billion Chinese yuan, or about $122 billion.
“These figures are lower than our initial projections, yet...
UK insurers leave companies unprotected against cyber threats
UK insurers’ current level of technology-related coverage may leave companies unprotected against damages from lost data and IT meltdowns.
Experts say that UK clients are “very concerned” and call for new cyber insurance policies, as...
US warns UK about allowing Huawei in 5G
The United States’ national security adviser, Robert O’Brien has warned the United Kingdom about allowing China’s Huawei Technologies into its 5G telecoms networks.
O’Brien said the action would pose a risk to UK’s secret intelligence...
Tesla’s stock hits record high
After seeing a dramatic rise for weeks, Tesla stock reached an all-time high of over $420 on 23 December.
Last year, CEO Elon Musk tweeted he had “funding secured” to take the company private at...
US Navy bans TikTok app from government-issued smartphones
The United States Navy has banned the video sharing app TikTok from government-issued mobile devices, saying it represented a "cybersecurity threat."
Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Uriah Orland explained that the "Cyber Awareness Message" that the...
BMW under investigation over US sales practices
BMW Group said it was being investigated by the United States’ Securities and Exchange Commission over the company's sales practices.
"We can confirm that we've been contacted by the SEC and are cooperating fully with...
Facebook removes hundreds of pro-Trump fake accounts
Facebook has removed more than 900 fake accounts, groups, and pages associated with a website known to publish conspiracy theories in support of United States’ president, Donald Trump.
The website “The Beauty of Life” is...
ECJ opinion says EU data transfer tools are legal in Facebook privacy case
According to a non-binding opinion from an advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union, the EU Commission’s standard contractual clauses used for data transfers between EU and non-EU countries are...
Amazon, Google, Apple join forces to improve smart home devices
Amazon, Google, Apple and the Zigbee Alliance announced on 18 December that they will team up in an effort to make smart homes easier to use.
The group is working on a project with an...
Germany delays decision on Huawei for 5G rollout
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Conservatives along with their Democrat partners have decided to delay till 2020 the decision on the 5G security rules that will decide Huawei’s fate in Germany.
Earlier this month, Telefonica Deutschland...
Apple, BMW, Dell, Ford urge Brussels to tackle unfair patent deals
Apple and a coalition of 27 tech and automotive companies sent a letter to the European Commission this week, complaining that other companies abuse the patent system by refusing to license standard essential patents...
Instagram makes big step toward fighting misinformation
Instagram is significantly expanding its fact-checking program as a part of its efforts to combat misinformation.
The Facebook-owned social media app announced it will, for the first time, fact-check posts of all of its users...
India’s internet shutdown is the longest in history
The Indian government's shutdown of the Internet in Kashmir is the longest in history, surpassing the previous blocks of Myanmar and China.
The crackdown was ordered to prevent Kashmiri citizens from receiving and spreading information...
Youtube bans ‘implied’ threats
YouTube revealed on 11 December it would better "tackle harassment" with its strengthened anti-harassment policy.
After being repeatedly accused of allowing hate speech, the video streaming platform said it will ban "veiled or implied threats"...
Vestager puts Google under scrutiny over data deals with news groups
Questionnaires were sent out to news publishers by the EU Competition authorities, as part of an ongoing preliminary probe into Google's use of reader's data and how the tech giant leverages data to personalise...
Regulatory myopia has resulted in the internet of today, and if we’re not careful...
At AmCham EU's 7th Annual Transatlantic Digital Economy conference, I had the pleasure of leading a fireside chat with Romanian MEP with the Renew Europe Group, Dragos Tudorache, and AT&T Senior Vice President for...
China orders removal of foreign tech in public offices
The Chinese government has ordered state offices and public institutions to remove foreign technology within three years. This is one of the latest developments in the trade war between China and the United States.
The...
Spain follows France, Italy, and the UK to introduce a digital tax
Spain will press ahead with a digital tax, following in the footsteps of France, Italy, and the UK, according to El Pais.
The plan for a so-called digital tax will go ahead despite threats of...
Huawei launches new legal action against US ban
Telecom giant Huawei announced on 5 December it has launched an authorized challenge to last month's decision by US regulators to classify it as a national security threat.
The legal challenge is a response to...
Uber’s European competitor shows higher profitability
Estonia’s car-hailing platform Bolt is profitable in two-thirds of the markets in which it operates, surpassing Uber’s profitability.
Founded in 2013 as Taxify and rebranded as Bolt, the Estonian company has a 25 million customer...
“We will not let technology turn against the people”, Jourová pledges
"Technology should serve the people, not the other way around", said Věra Jourová, Vice President for Values and Transparency, European Commission, during a Summit organised by the Financial Times and European Telecommunications Network Operations...
Europe’s 5G state-of-play: Interview with Mark Spelman
Mark Spelman is a British expert focused on key 5G challenges like standardisation and cyber-security. His current roles include heads the Thought Leadership at the World Economic Forum and leading the Forum’s initiative on...
European Commissioner slams Turkey’s internet censorship
Turkey's continued block of the internet is both unacceptable and a violation of the democratic principles of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects freedom of speech, according to the Europe Commissioner for Human...
Facebook’s only Dutch fact-checking partner quits over political advertising policies
A partnership between Facebook and the only Netherlands-based fact-checker, Nu.nl, has stopped checking for possible fake news on Facebook, ending a two-and-a-half-year partnership with the social media giant.
"What is the point of fighting fake...
Britain steps up commitment to European Space Agency
The UK is expected to raise its subscription to the European Space Agency.
The British delegation in Seville, Spain, was instructed to raise British government support for the agency, as the UK aims to remain...
Russia moves to ban sales of devices without pre-installed domestic software
Russia has adopted a new law prohibiting the sale of imported "complex electronic" devices unless Russian-made software is pre-installed.
The legislation passed a final vote in the State Duma, Russia's lower house, earlier in November...