Author Archives: angel

The draft Online Safety Bill harms free speech and hands policing the internet to Silicon Valley, a new campaign claims. The “Legal to Say. Legal to Type” campaign says if it becomes law, US tech firms would gain too much power. The draft bill places new duties on social media firms to remove harmful or […]

The European Commission has opened an investigation into whether Google is dominating the online-advertising market at the expense of its rivals. It will examine Google’s role in collecting data, selling advertising space and acting as an online-advertising intermediary. The commission is concerned the technology giant is making it hard for other online advertisers to compete. […]

Apple is under investigation by the German competition watchdog. The Federal Cartel Office (FCO) said the initial investigation will look at whether the company is of “paramount significance across markets”. Apple said it looked forward to “having an open dialogue” with the FCO about any of its concerns. Facebook, Amazon and Google have faced similar […]

Manufacturing more computer chips in Europe and the US will be one of the key focuses of a new technology alliance between the two. The Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was unveiled following talks between European commissioner Margrethe Vestager and US President Joe Biden. The group will also seek to set common standards for new […]

The UK Information Commissioner has said she is “deeply concerned” live facial recognition (LFR) may be used “inappropriately, excessively or even recklessly”. Elizabeth Denham questioned what would happen if it was combined with social media and other big data. There is a “high bar” for LFR where “we shop, socialise or gather”, she wrote. New […]

Manufacturing more computer chips in Europe and the US will be one of the key focuses of a new technology alliance between the two. The Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was unveiled following talks between European commissioner Margrethe Vestager and US President Joe Biden. The group will also seek to set common standards for new […]

Irish police will have the power to compel people to provide passwords for electronic devices when carrying out a search warrant under new legislation. The change is part of the Garda Síochána Bill published by Irish Justice Minister Heather Humphreys on Monday. Gardaí will also be required to make a written record of a stop […]

Facebook is developing a smartwatch that will act as a controller for its forthcoming augmented-reality projects. Reports claimed the device was due for release in mid-2022 and would feature multiple cameras. But a senior Facebook executive said the smartwatch was in only its early stages – and may never be released to the public. “We’re […]

US Senate lawmakers have approved a massive spending plan to boost technology research and production. The proposed measures come in the face of growing international competition, particularly from China. A Beijing official hit back at the bill on Wednesday, saying it “exaggerated the ‘China threat’”. The bill, which must pass the House of Representatives before […]

Apple device users will now be able see when individual apps request to access features such as the microphone, camera and phone gallery, plus which third parties they have connected with in the last seven days. The new “app privacy report” feature was unveiled at the firm’s annual developers’ conference, WWDC. Apple has prioritised privacy […]