EU USER DATA
EU charges TikTok over harmful algorithmic 'rabbit hole' effects
EU tech regulators charged social media platform TikTok on Friday with breaching the bloc's online content rules due to the so-called "rabbit hole" effect of its recommender system, which attracts users' attention to a constant stream of
Meta halts new business terms after backlash over data scraping and AI use
Meta has postponed the rollout of new terms affecting its business accounts due to significant backlash. Critics claimed these changes could lead to unauthorized data scraping and unfair competition against news publishers. A Norwegian court granted an injunction on the terms, highlighting concerns over Meta's market dominance. The U.K. competition authority has also initiated an investigation into these new business conditions.
Is India prepared to tackle 369 million cybersecurity incidents and AI challenges ahead?
India experienced a notable increase in cybersecurity incidents which has raised concerns over its infrastructure and talent shortages. The adoption of AI is rising, yet the country lags behind others in global rankings. Challenges related to AI, such as data protection and algorithmic liability, are becoming more complex. To address these issues, comprehensive regulatory frameworks and national legislation are urgently needed.
Who sent $2 bn military equipment to Iran past US blockade? More than 5,000 agencies
Iran has developed a clandestine network involving over 5,000 agencies to import military equipment and evade sanctions. This network functions despite ongoing US naval blockades and sanctions since the war began. Extensive investigations reveal significant transactions and military logistics supporting their activities. The secretive agencies have been linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and elite controlled businesses.
Global cyber alert rings as two critical PHP flaws leave millions of web services exposed to remote takeover
Two significant vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language could allow hackers to execute code remotely. PHP has released updates to address these flaws, which affect millions of internet-facing services. Many installations remain unpatched, including those running outdated versions. Security experts warn that nearly all PHP installations face security risks from these vulnerabilities. Organizations are urged to implement immediate patches and isolate affected systems from public networks.
Explained: What is PHP and why did it take government websites offline?
The developers of PHP said on Wednesday they would release patches for two critical vulnerabilities, and EU cybersecurity officials warned organisations unable to apply the fixes to take affected websites offline. Here is what you need to know:
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PHP vulnerability 2026 CVE-2026-109619 patch: Why are government, school, hospital websites going offline, new PHP updates are live
PHP vulnerability 2026 CVE-2026-109619 patch is available now. US National Security Agency andgovernment websites in Europe and elsewhere went offline on Wednesday after the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities.
Not gold, GDP, military strength or rare earths: Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, says this hidden metric reveals true economic strength
Elon Musk has offered a different way to judge the strength of a major economy. In an October 10 post on X, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive argued that electricity production is the best measure of a country's economic strength.
EU watchdog says smart glasses must give 'clear warnings' when recording
The European Union's central data regulator on Tuesday said smart glasses should give "clear warnings" when they are recording, after a public outcry in recent months over secretly filmed footage of girls and women. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) warned in its non-binding guidance to users and manufacturers that smart glasses raised "serious privacy concerns" as it seeks to increase awareness about the risks.
Tesla is browbeating the EU to approve its 'Full Self-Driving' tech. The pressure is working
Tesla is involved in a campaign to secure EU approval for its Full Self-Driving technology. The automaker faces criticism regarding the validity of its safety research and claims. European regulators are examining the methodology behind Tesla's assertions of crash reduction performance. Tesla officials have engaged in discussions with various regulators to alleviate concerns over the technology. The outcome of this push could significantly impact Tesla's market presence in Europe.
Google asks EU court to suspend order to open up to AI chatbots, search engine rivals
The company, which on Tuesday took the European Commission to court over the order, said it also applied for an interim measure at the Luxembourg General Court, Europe's second-highest court.
Tomato Rs 680, lemon Rs 850/kg, cucumber Rs 300 per piece: Indian in Norway compares vegetable prices with India
An Indian-origin resident of Norway has drawn attention online after comparing the cost of everyday vegetables in the two countries and questioning whether low prices in Indian cities translate into fair earnings for farmers. His post highlighted sharp differences for lemons, tomatoes and cucumbers, prompting users to debate purchasing power, supply and demand, agricultural regulation and the role of intermediaries.
Google appeals against EU order to share data, open Android to AI rivals
Google said Tuesday it has appealed an EU decision requiring it to share data with other search engines and open up its Android system to rival AI services, citing privacy concerns. But Google countered that Android is already open and interoperable and the EU decision forced it to hand over private search data to other firms without adequate anonymisation, user knowledge, or consent.
Bharti Airtel, Vi shares rise up to 2% after Aug mobile subscriber data. Which is Nomura’s top pick?
India added 55 lakh mobile subscribers in August, according to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Reliance Jio continued to lead with 24 lakh new users, while Bharti Airtel gained 21 lakh and Vodafone Idea over 5 lakh. Jio holds a market share of 39.31%, followed by Airtel with 38.01%. The growth in urban subscriptions increased by 0.70% from July to August this year.
Elon Musk vs EU: What is the X fine case that the Trump administration has joined?
The US Justice Department has intervened in Elon Musk’s challenge against a €120 million fine imposed by the EU. The fines originate from alleged breaches of the Digital Services Act by Musk’s platform, X. The European Commission claims X failed to meet transparency requirements in several areas. The US argues this case could impact American technology companies in the future.
European Union vows to defend its stand against X after the US backs a court challenge from Elon Musk
The European Union imposed a significant fine on social media platform X for regulatory violations. Following this, the U.S. government expressed support for Musk's legal efforts to dismiss the fine. The European Commission emphasised its right to enforce legislation aimed at protecting citizens. This situation has escalated tensions between Brussels and Washington regarding regulatory power. Officials from both sides have engaged in discussions about jurisdiction and implications for American companies.
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.
Irish privacy regulator fines Google €403 million over location data processing
The lead European Union data privacy regulator for most of the biggest internet companies fined Alphabet's Google search engine €403 following an inquiry into its processing of location data, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) said on Monday.
NITI seeks easier access to geological data, capital for small exploration companies
Niti Aayog recommends government support for junior exploration firms and increased private participation. Streamlining approvals and forest procedures will reduce project delays significantly. Harmonizing renewable energy rules and addressing GST for logistics are also advised. Promoting domestic production of specialized alloys and battery recycling is crucial. Strengthening trade competitiveness requires market diversification and integrated value chains.
Take steps to accelerate discovery of new mineral resources, says NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog suggests improving access to geological data and capital for exploration companies. Streamlining approvals and procedures will help reduce project delays significantly. Promoting domestic production of specialized alloys and integrating suppliers is also recommended. Establishing traceable collection systems for batteries and e-waste is crucial. The report highlights India's mineral trade share and key export markets.
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.
The epistemology of power: Why BRICS must build a common scientific architecture
For nations striving for geopolitical balance, achieving scientific and technological independence is crucial. The BRICS alliance, with its substantial population and economic resources, is focused on developing joint scientific initiatives and promoting collaborative innovations. By pooling their strengths, they intend to amplify their influence on future technological advancements and frameworks, thus enhancing their role in global tech governance.
Crypto's shopping hack; Centre eyes Meta child safeguards
Indians are buying groceries, fuel, food and gold via gift cards on overseas crypto platforms. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Portuguese group D3 sues Meta, TikTok and YouTube over addictive design
A spokesperson for Alphabet's Google, owner of YouTube, said providing people with "a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work" and pointed to tools such as "take a break" and bedtime reminders designed to help users manage viewing habits.
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.
TikTok fined €530 million by EU regulator over data protection
TikTok said it strongly contested the finding and that it has used the EU's own legal framework, specifically so-called standard contractual clauses, to grant tightly controlled and limited remote access. It plans to appeal the ruling. It also said the decision fails to fully consider data security measures first rolled out in 2023 that independently monitor remote access and ensure EU user data is stored in dedicated data centres in Europe and the United States.
X agrees to not use some EU user data to train AI chatbot
Elon Musk-owned X has said it allows all users to decide if their public posts can be used by the platform's artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. To do so users have to untick a box in their privacy settings to opt out. However Judge Leonie Reynolds said it was clear that X began processing EU users' data to train its AI systems on May 7 and only offered the option to opt out from July 16.
Court rejects Meta's challenge against EU antitrust requests for information
On May 22, Meta was fined $1.3 billion by the European Union and given a deadline to stop shipping users’ data to the US after regulators said it failed to protect personal information from the prying eyes of American security services.
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