EU WATCHDOG
Europe's financial regulators query Google over cloud outage that hit banks
The European Banking Authority said that it has been in contact with Google Cloud to obtain further information on the incident, understand its implications and assess its potential impact on financial entities in the EU, a spokesperson for the watchdog told Reuters.
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.
Italy launches EU-backed probe into Microsoft-owned gaming companies
Italy's probe is aimed at Activision Blizzard, among other companies of the Microsoft group, the antitrust authority said in a statement, without naming the others
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.
How the EU regulates lobbyists after 2022 Qatargate bribery scandal
Following the 2022 Qatargate bribery scandal, the European Union tightened its lobbying rules in Brussels, where thousands of businesses and industries push their interests to EU lawmakers and officials. - Public agendas - Brussels tightened its lobbying rules after the so-called "Qatargate" cash-for-influence scandal in 2022, when former EU lawmakers were suspected of taking bribes from Qatar and Morocco.
Polish regulator suspects Google abused dominant position in publisher payment talks
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, known by its Polish abbreviation UOKiK, said the charges relate to how Google negotiates remuneration for displaying articles and snippets in its search results, Google News and Discover services.
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Why are world bond markets selling off again?
As inflation fears and mounting debt pressure rise, government borrowing costs have soared to unprecedented levels. The US Treasury yield, now the highest since 2002, signifies a shift in global market dynamics. These increasing bond yields adversely affect loans for families and businesses, posing challenges for governmental finances. Intervention by central banks could be on the horizon to maintain fiscal order, especially with future artificial intelligence-related bond issues looming.
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.
Europe eyes battle over 'pervert' AI glasses
Anyone wearing smart glasses can take photos, film videos, listen to music, make phone calls, translate text or interact with an AI assistant, with sales now hitting the millions.
Why are Europe’s water protection laws being rewritten? Environmental groups challenge EU’s fast-moving deregulation drive
Environmental groups have challenged European Union water protection rule revisions. They argue the European Commission moved too quickly without adequate evidence. This dispute adds to tensions surrounding the EU's broader regulatory simplification efforts. Businesses seek reduced burdens, while groups fear weakened environmental safeguards. The European Ombudsman will now decide whether to investigate this significant complaint.
Opera loses court challenge against EU exemption of Microsoft's Edge from DMA rules
The European Commission in its 2024 decision said Edge was not an important gateway for businesses to reach users even though it met the quantitative criteria set out under the Digital Markets Act which sets out a list of dos and don'ts for Big Tech.
EU antitrust regulators quiz publishers on Google's AI search opt-out
The publishers' feedback could determine the outcome of an ongoing EU investigation that could result in yet another hefty fine for Google if the proposal fails to address competition concerns and publishers' worries about unfair use of their content.
Google urges EU top court to back ruling scrapping $1.7 billion antitrust fine
Google urged Europe's top court to dismiss an EU antitrust appeal. Regulators challenged a lower court ruling which annulled a fine imposed on Google. The European Commission had accused Google of using restrictive clauses in publisher contracts. Google's lawyer argued the Commission's new arguments were flawed and incomplete. A final ruling on this dispute is expected in the coming months.
Meta will only make limited changes to pay-or-consent model, EU says
Meta Platforms made only limited changes to its pay-or-consent model, and EU regulators cannot confirm compliance with an antitrust order. The European Commission may impose periodic penalties starting June 27, if Meta continues to fail meeting the required standards.
Google to be hit with EU charges of breaching Big Tech rules, sources say
One probe focuses on whether Google favours its vertical search engines such as Google Shopping, Google Flights and Google Hotels over rivals, and whether it discriminates against third-party services on Google search results.
Apple faces EU warning to open up iPhone operating
EU watchdogs are due to announce under the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act that the Cupertino, California-based firm must step into line with strict new rules on making operating systems fully functional with other technologies, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke under condition of anonymity.
Sweeping EU rules on AI to pass final hurdle
EU lawmakers are poised to approve on Wednesday wide-ranging rules to govern artificial intelligence, including powerful systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT, marking the final major hurdle before formal adoption. Brussels has sprinted to pass the new law since OpenAI's Microsoft-backed ChatGPT arrived on the scene in late 2022, unleashing a new global AI race.
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.
EU privacy watchdogs urged to oppose Meta's paid ad-free service
Privacy enforcers should oppose Meta Platforms' no-ads subscription service in Europe, according to a joint letter by 28 organizations. The service requires users to pay a fee for privacy, but users who consent to be tracked get a free service funded by advertising revenues.
Big Tech move into finance to come under closer EU scrutiny
The European Union's financial watchdogs have stated that the presence of Big Tech in the EU's financial services sector is currently not a threat to financial stability. They conducted a stocktake to assess the activities of Big Tech companies such as Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Alibaba, and more. The stocktake revealed an increasing presence of Big Tech subsidiaries as direct providers of financial services, particularly in payments, e-money, and insurance.
EU securities watchdog warns investors over crypto market protections
Crypto assets are currently unregulated under EU securities rules, and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) said investors would not benefit from any EU-level regulatory and supervisory safeguards, or recourse mechanisms under the new rules, known as MiCA, until December 2024.
EU antitrust regulators rejected Meta offer to curb use of ad data, sources say
Meta Platforms offered to curb the use of competitors' advertising data for its Facebook Marketplace online classified service in an attempt to settle an EU antitrust investigation but it was not accepted by regulators, people familiar with the matter said.
EU regulators extend Amazon, iRobot decision deadline to December 13
EU antitrust regulators have extended their deadline for a decision on Amazon's $1.7 billion acquisition of robot vacuum cleaner maker iRobot to Dec. 13 after the companies requested more time.
EU watchdog calls for early adoption of stablecoin standards
The European Union's banking watchdog urged stablecoin issuers on Wednesday to voluntarily comply with 'guiding principles' on managing risks and protecting consumers ahead of mandatory rules due in a year's time.
EU watchdog calls for curbing leverage in crypto trading
It was one of several recommendations made by the European Systemic Risk Board, which ranged from demanding regular reports from all companies involved with crypto assets to introducing specific rules for the largest firms in that space.
Apple to defend mobile payment system at February 14 EU hearing
The hearing, which senior European Commission and national competition officials, Apple executives and complainants will attend, comes nine months after the EU competition watchdog accused the company of abusing its market power.
Meta cannot run ads based on personal data, rules EU privacy watchdog: source
The Irish data protection agency, which oversees Meta because its European headquarters is located in Dublin, has been given a month to issue a ruling based on the European Data Protection Board's (EDPB) binding decision.
EU court backs national data watchdog powers in blow to Facebook, Big Tech
The EU Court of Justice (CJEU) ruling could encourage national agencies to act against U.S. tech companies such as Google, Twitter and Apple, which all have their European Union headquarters in Ireland.
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