March 29, 2024

Web and Technology News

Europe seals a deal on tighter rules for digital services

In the small hours local time, European Union lawmakers secured a provisional deal on a landmark update to rules for digital services operating in the region — grabbing political agreement after a final late night/early morning of compromise talks on the detail of what is a major retooling of the bloc’s existing ecommerce rulebook. The […]

Report reveals Big Tech’s last minute lobbying to weaken EU rules

A new report has peeled back the curtain on big tech’s frenzied lobbying of European Union lawmakers as they finalize a major series of updates to the bloc’s digital rulebook. It reveals some of the arguments used by tech giants including Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta (Facebook) and Spotify to press their interests behind the scenes […]

Report reveals Big Tech’s last minute lobbying to weaken EU rules

A new report has peeled back the curtain on big tech’s frenzied lobbying of European Union lawmakers as they finalize a major series of updates to the bloc’s digital rulebook. It reveals some of the arguments used by tech giants including Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta (Facebook) and Spotify to press their interests behind the scenes […]

MEPs vote to expand scope of common charger rules

European Union lawmakers have taken a step closer to agreeing rules to standardize how a range of mobile gadgetry is charged. Today MEPs in the European Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection (IMCO) committee adopted their position on a Commission proposal announced last fall, ahead of a full vote by the parliament next month to […]

MEPs vote to expand scope of common charger rules

European Union lawmakers have taken a step closer to agreeing rules to standardize how a range of mobile gadgetry is charged. Today MEPs in the European Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection (IMCO) committee adopted their position on a Commission proposal announced last fall, ahead of a full vote by the parliament next month to […]

EU’s digital rule-book reboot could fumble dark patterns ban and trader checks, warns BEUC

When the European Commission presented its Digital Services Act (DSA) proposal in December 2020, it listed beefed up consumer protections as a headline goal for the flagship update to the bloc’s rules for digital services. But now, as negotiations over the draft law are in the final stretch, where EU co-legislators hash out the detail […]

EU-US data transfers deal could be finalized by end of year, says bloc

The European Commission continues to eschew pronouncing a firm timeline for finalizing a new EU-US data transfers deal after the two sides reached a political agreement on a way forward last month. But today justice commissioner, Didier Reynders, put out a slightly strengthened suggestion that a replacement for the defunct Privacy Shield could be adopted […]

Europe says yes to messaging interoperability as it agrees major new regime for big tech

Late Thursday the European Union secured agreement on the detail of a major competition reform that will see the most powerful, intermediating tech platforms subject to a set of up-front rules on how they can and cannot operate — with the threat of fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover should they breach […]

Germany warns against using Kaspersky software citing ‘considerable’ cyber risk after Russia’s invasion

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) warned organizations against using Kaspersky antivirus software over fears it could be exploited for cyber-espionage or launching cyberattacks amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. While the office is not explicitly banning the use of Kaspersky software, the security agency is urging German organizations to replace products made […]

European lawmakers launch investigation into use of Pegasus spyware by EU states

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to create a new “committee of inquiry” to investigate allegations that European member states acquired and used the powerful Pegasus mobile spyware. Lawmakers voted largely in favor to create the committee, which will investigate the use of Pegasus and other surveillance spyware across the 27 member states of the […]

European lawmakers launch investigation into use of Pegasus spyware by EU states

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to create a new “committee of inquiry” to investigate allegations that European member states acquired and used the powerful Pegasus mobile spyware. Lawmakers voted largely in favor to create the committee, which will investigate the use of Pegasus and other surveillance spyware across the 27 member states of the […]

More deceptive cookie banners targeted in latest noyb EU action

European privacy advocacy group, noyb, has fired off a second batch of cookie consent complaints (270 in total) — targeting websites in the region which it says are failing to properly request users’ consent to be tracked for ad targeting. The problem is consent popups that don’t contain a clear choice and/or use illegal dark […]

Google’s adtech targeted by publisher antitrust complaint in EU

Google’s dominance of the online ad market has been targeted by another antitrust complaint filed in the European Union by a coalition of publishers. This time it’s the European Publishers Council (EPC) — whose members include the CEOs of News UK, Condé Nast, New York Times, Axel Springer and The Guardian, among others — arguing […]

Google’s adtech targeted by publisher antitrust complaint in EU

Google’s dominance of the online ad market has been targeted by another antitrust complaint filed in the European Union by a coalition of publishers. This time it’s the European Publishers Council (EPC) — whose members include the CEOs of News UK, Condé Nast, New York Times, Axel Springer and The Guardian, among others — arguing […]

European cloud firms call for clearer ‘ex ante’ rules to end abusive software licensing

European cloud computing companies have raised the alarm over what they say is a “critical loophole” in the EU’s flagship plan to tackle anti-competitive behaviors by gatekeeping digital giants. In an open letter sent to competition commissioner and EVP Margrethe Vestager this week, 41 European cloud enterprises called for an urgent clarification to be made […]

Europe’s Chips Act to bake in up to €2BN in funding support for startups and scale-ups

European Union lawmakers have today presented a Chips Act: Their plan, trailed last fall, to bolster regional sovereignty in semiconductor production and supply chain resilience through a package of targeted support for chip production inside the bloc, including in areas like R&D and via funding for startups and scale-ups working on cutting edge tech in […]