EU PRIVACY LAW
ETtech Explainer: Decoding EU’s move to dismantle addictive technology for children
The proposed KIDS Act would set different access rules by age, bring AI companions and conversational chatbots under the bloc’s child-safety framework and require platforms to build safeguards into their services. The proposal comes as governments in several countries consider tighter restrictions on children’s access to social media and other online services.
Google fined $463 million for breaching EU rule on location data
Google received a 403 million euro fine for privacy rule breaches. The European Union's watchdog found Google mishandled user location data unfairly. This investigation examined Google's practices from 2018 until early 2020. Google stated its policies have since been updated and improved significantly. This marks the fourth largest EU privacy fine issued by the Irish regulator.
Europe's AI firms, playing catch-up, challenge US calls for slowdown
Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei in an online essay urged firms to slow the pace at which they improve AI model capabilities and called for an antitrust waiver allowing leading developers to jointly develop safety measures after researchers warned about the dangers of AI, including that it could wipe out humanity.
EU chief to unveil social media, gaming curbs for under-15s
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will on Wednesday unveil long-awaited plans to protect children from online harm by curbing access to social media, video-sharing platforms, games and AI chatbots for under-15s. Von der Leyen will use her annual keynote speech to the European Parliament to outline new EU legislation, which according to a draft document will set strict limits on access to social media, AI chatbots and online gaming for under-15s.
California governor signs law to limit children's social media risks
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than a dozen new laws on Thursday that address various aspects of children's safety online, including one that prohibits social media companies from serving addictive features to users under 16 years old. Instead, it defines "addictive" features as ones that are "psychologically exploitative" and prohibits social media companies from providing children with features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations and autoplay.
EU faces revolt over social media ban for children
The European Union is poised for a big reveal of its plans to keep minors safe online -- but proposals to restrict their social media access and force age checks have drawn fire from children's rights groups and privacy defenders alike. children's rights groups fear that social media limits will infringe on minors' freedoms, while digital rights groups raise concerns over age verification.
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AI regulations should be nimble to boost innovation: Principal Scientific Advisor Ajay Sood
India's top scientific advisor advocates for agile AI regulations that foster innovation. New amendments to the IT Act 2021 address risks from artificial intelligence and deepfakes. The government prioritises innovation for inclusive growth and developing India by 2047. Existing laws will be strengthened to ensure public safety and fundamental human rights.
EU to delay 'high risk' AI rules until 2027 after Big Tech pushback
The European Commission proposed easing and delaying parts of major tech laws, including shifting high-risk AI rules to 2027. The “Digital Omnibus” aims to cut red tape while maintaining strong regulation, simplifying cookie consent and allowing limited personal-data use for AI training under revised GDPR rules.
EU bows to pressure on loosening AI, privacy rules
The EU plans to ease parts of its AI and data protection rules to help European businesses compete with US and Chinese rivals. Critics argue the changes weaken privacy by narrowing the definition of personal data and delaying key AI safeguards. Brussels denies lowering standards, but opposition from rights groups and lawmakers is growing.
Critics call proposed changes to landmark EU privacy law 'death by a thousand cuts'
The changes proposed by the European Commission are part of a drive to simplify a slew of laws adopted in recent years on technology, environmental and financial issues which have in turn faced pushback from companies and the US government.
Mozilla hit with privacy complaint over Firefox user tracking
Mozilla had defended the feature, saying it wanted to help websites understand how their ads perform without collecting data about individual people. By offering what it called a non-invasive alternative to cross-site tracking, it hoped to significantly reduce collecting individual information.
X hit with Austrian data use complaint over AI training
The group led by privacy activist Max Schrems announced that it had filed General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) complaints with authorities in nine European Union authorities to ramp up pressure on the Irish data protection authority DPC.
EU Commission's use of Microsoft software breached privacy rules: watchdog
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) ordered the Commission to take measures to comply with privacy rules and to halt data transfer to the US company and subsidiaries located in third countries that do not have privacy deals with the EU, setting a deadline of December 9 for both orders.
EU Commission's use of Microsoft software breached privacy rules, watchdog says
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) ordered the Commission to take measures to comply with privacy rules and to halt data transfer to the U.S. company and subsidiaries located in third countries which do not have privacy deals with the EU, setting a deadline of Dec. 9 for both orders.
Consumer lobby group Finance Watch seeks more privacy in digital euro use
The European Central Bank is due this month to say if it will push ahead with a digital euro, one of many central banks across the world, including the Federal Reserve and Bank of England, seeking to keep ahead of technological advances in payments.
TikTok fined $370 million over handling of children's data in Europe
It is the first time ByteDance-owned TikTok has been reprimanded by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, the lead regulator in the EU for many of the world's top tech firms due to the location of their regional headquarters in Ireland.
Meta's WhatsApp fined $5.95 million by lead EU privacy regulator
The DPC, which acts as the EU's lead privacy regulator for Meta, said WhatsApp must reassess how it uses personal data for service improvements.
Irish privacy regulator fines Meta more than $400 million
Ireland's data privacy regulator fined Meta 390 million euros ($414 million) on Wednesday for breaches at its Facebook and Instagram services and said both must reassess the legal basis on how they run advertising based on personal data in the European Union.
WhatsApp has until July to comply with EU consumer law, EU says
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and the European Network of consumer authorities said WhatsApp had not explained the changes in plain and intelligible language in breach of EU consumer law.
Data is the New Currency
The GDPR will levy harsh fines against those who violate its privacy and security standards, with penalties reaching into the tens of millions of euros.
Revamping India's outdated data laws
The existing IT Act is a relic of its time and does not adequately cater to modern data protection requirements.
EU's will to protect data, now the way
To the extent that the EU is putting out a view of how the internet should interact with society, its legislative vigour is commendable.
WhatsApp has until end of Feb to clarify privacy policy change, EU says
Areas of concern include whether the company provides sufficient information about its new terms of service and if its notifications prompting users to accept the new terms and privacy policy are fair.
Ireland fines WhatsApp 225 million euros for breaching EU privacy laws
Ireland was asked to "reassess and increase its proposed fine on the basis of a number of factors ... and following this reassessment the DPC has imposed a fine of 225 million euro on WhatsApp," said Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC).
ETtech Exclusive | Big Tech should pay publishers, creators as content gets users: EU's Margrethe Vestager
Big Tech firms must pay publishers and creators for the content on their platforms, as users come for the content and not for advertising, European Union's Competition Chief Margrethe Vestager says in an exclusive interview.
View: An AI-entrusted future must have a stringent privacy & data protection law
The breakneck speed at which AI seems to be permeating through various aspects of human existence is accompanied by talks around its ethical parameters.
GDPR: Why does a law enacted in Europe affect businesses in India?
Attributable largely to the scope and reach of the internet, several businesses operating out of India now have the ability to target customers globally.
Only a third of Indian IT companies ready for EU privacy laws
Potential damages of any breach of privacy of user data from Europe could cost Indian IT firms as much as 4 per cent of their revenue.
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