Archive for July 2019
France approves new tax on multinational tech giants
French lawmakers have voted to approve a new tax on digital services, aimed primarily at large international tech giants based in the US, according to BBC News. A 3 percent tax on sales by large multinational tech companies was passed by the French senate Thursday, after it was approved by the lower house a week earlier. […]
Amazon to work with the UK’s NHS to help Alexa answer medical questions
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is collaborating with Amazon to provide health advice through the company’s Alexa virtual assistants, according to Business Insider. UK citizens will be able to ask Alexa questions like “How do I treat a migraine?” or “What are the symptoms of the flu?” and receive professional recommendations directly from the […]
UK authorities fine Marriott £99 million over data breach
The UK’s data protection authority is issuing a £99 million fine against US hotel company Marriott, over a data breach that exposed personal information from over 330 million guests, according to BBC News. Marriott reported the incident last year, although it dates back to 2014. Hackers breached the central reservation database of Starwood, a rival hotel group […]
UK mobile carriers are working with Huawei to build 5G networks, despite security fears
The controversial Chinese tech giant Huawei is working with the UK’s four largest mobile carriers to develop the nation’s next-generation 5G cell networks, despite accusations from US officials that the company could pose a security threat, The Guardian reported Saturday. The move could spark tension between the UK and the US, which is taking a […]
France votes to fine social media companies that fail to remove hate speech
French legislators voted Thursday to impose a hefty fine on social media companies that fail to remove hate speech from their platform, according to The Verge. The measure was approved by the lower house of the French Parliament, and will need the support of the upper chamber to become law. It would allow companies like Facebook […]
EU votes against Wi-Fi for connected cars, opening door to 5G
European Union member states voted Thursday against an effort to mandate the use of Wi-Fi for internet connected cars, according to Reuters. The move clears a path to use 5G for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, which allows cars to send information to nearby vehicles and infrastructure. It’s a key step toward fully autonomous driving as well as […]
UK regulators call for ban on financial products linked to cryptocurrency
UK financial regulators are proposing a ban on financial instruments linked to cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, saying they’re “ill-suited” for small investors due to their “extreme volatility” and other risks, The Guardian reported Wednesday. The ban would prohibit trading platforms from selling, marketing, or distributing derivatives and other instruments linked to “unregulated transferable cryptoassets” such as bitcoin. The ban […]
Google to connect Africa to Europe with state-of-the-art undersea internet cable
Google has unveiled plans to build a powerful new undersea internet cable from Europe to Africa, according to Business Insider. Set to be completed by 2021, the company’s “Equiano” cable will offer 20 times the network capacity of the most powerful cable currently in use for Africa. It will use state-of-the-art infrastructure to bring high-speed, and […]
Italy fines Facebook €1 million over Cambridge Analytica violations
Italy has issued a €1 million fine against Facebook for violations of its online privacy laws with last year’s Cambridge Analytica revelations, according to Tech Crunch. In March of 2018, it was revealed that personal data had been collected from 87 million Facebook users, mostly without their permission or knowledge, by the political consulting firm Cambridge […]