The fine, intended to penalise 'poor security arrangements' that allowed the attack to take place, is the largest ever announced by the ICO and its first under new GDPR rules
News regulation
EU Requires New Electric Cars To Emit Noise
The new regulations come in response to complaints that electric vehicles pose a danger to pedestrians because they are too quiet
New Rules Allow Users To Switch Mobile Providers With A Single Text
From Monday users can switch to a new provider within one working day without notice period charges
Bill Gates Calls For Tech Regulation
Microsoft co-founder says it is time for governments to help regulate technology giants like Facebook, Google
European Banks, Regulators Prepare Strict Regulatory Response To Facebook’s Libra
Financial Conduct Authority calls for more information, while Bank of France warns of money-laundering risks
Drones Disrupt Singapore Flights For Second Time In A Week
More than a dozen flights were affected by drone sightings, after a similar incident at the same airport last week
Bitcoin Jumps Over $11,000 After Facebook Libra Launch
Facebook's Libra plans help Bitcoin jump 10 percent to reach 15-month highs, as investors hope to see cryptocurrencies move into the mainstream
US Congress Targets Tech Giants With Competition Probe
The focus on 'anti-competitive conduct' at major tech companies comes as the Department of Justice and the FTC reportedly prepare their own investigations into Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google
Facebook Set To Launch ‘GlobalCoin’ Virtual Currency Next Year
But the social network faces tight regulatory scrutiny over its poor track record on protecting users' personal data
Snap Employees ‘Abused Internal Tools To Spy On Users’
The 'disappearing' message platform vendor has dedicated tools to gather user data for internal purposes, and has had to contend with staff abuse of those tools in the past, finds a report
European Companies Report Increase In Forced Technology Transfers To China
An EU industry group finds that the number of firms reporting forced technology transfers has doubled over the past two years
Facebook US Settlement Could Impose 20 Years Of Oversight
A deal with the FTC reportedly in the works could extend oversight of Facebook's data practices, but critics say it's too little, too late
Facebook Sues App Developer Over Data Misuse
The company says it is cracking down on the way third parties handle users' personal information, amidst pressure for tighter regulations
EU Regulators Plan Apple Probe After Spotify Antitrust Complaint
Spotify accused Apple of misusing its dominant iPhone App Store to charge a 'tax' on rival music services
Rakuten Takes Applications Ahead Of Cryptocurrency Exchange Launch
Rakuten Wallet is one of several major crypto-asset platforms arriving in Japan in the coming weeks, even as authorities battle against soaring losses due to theft and scams
Controversial EU Copyright Reform Clears Final Hurdle
EU member states, including the UK, adopt sweeping copyright changes intended to adjust rules for the digital age
Connected Car Rules Blocked In European Parliament Vote
The European Commission's proposal has fuelled opposition from network operators, who say it's incompatible with Europe's 5G rollout ambitions
Facebook Changes User Terms Under Pressure From European Commission
The changes for the first time clearly spell out Facebook's business model of selling user data for use in targeted advertising
China Looks To Phase Out Bitcoin Mining
The biggest crypto-mining companies are based there, but China may now list the activity amongst the 'undesireable' economic sectors destined for elimination
Vestager Calls For Europe To ‘Take The Lead’ On Digital Tax
European countries should push ahead with taxes aimed at fairer digital taxation and allow the rest of the world to catch up, says EU competition commissioner
Government Publishes Social Media Regulation Plans
White paper calls for an independent regulator that would write a code of conduct covering illegal or dangerous content – and would have the power to impose huge fines
After Months In Doldrums, Bitcoin Surges Over $5,000
After a 74 percent drop in 2018, Bitcoin has showed relatively little activity this year – but its sudden rise causes other crypto-assets to jump
ICO Calls On Facebook To Prove It’s Sincere On Regulation
If Facebook is truly in favour of stronger social media rules, it should revisit its appeal of last year's £500,000 fine over the Cambridge Analytica leak, says information commissioner
Facebook’s Call For Regulation Meets With Scepticism
As political pressure mounts, Mark Zuckerberg calls for a common regulatory framework covering issues such as harmful content, misinformation and privacy
German States Approve Criminal Law Targeting Dark Web Infrastructure
The proposal would hand prison sentences to those whose dark web platforms are used for criminal purposes
MPs Call For Tax On Social Media Companies
Parliament group calls for regulations to tackle harmful social effects of 'Wild West' online environment, in the latest sign of a tightening regulatory landscape for internet firms
Zuckerberg Announces ‘Privacy-Focused’ Future For Facebook
Facebook chief says the company is building a 'privacy-focused platform', as it prepares to integrate WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram
Zuckerberg Meets With UK Culture Secretary
The 30-minute meeting at Facebook's California headquarters follows 18 months of demands for Zuckerberg to appear before Parliament
Paris Sues Airbnb For £11m Over ‘Illegal’ Adverts
French capital sues rental platform under new rules as tourist destinations complain of antisocial side-effects of short-term rentals
Apple Faces FaceTime Security Questions As It Releases Bug Fix
The US House of Representatives queries Apple over its initial delay in addressing the flaw, which allows users to listen in on other iOS devices' microphones