Information Commissioner’s Office puts adtech companies on notice as it relaunches investigation into widespread non-compliance with privacy rules
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EU Pressures Tech Giants’ CEOs Over Hearings
European Parliament invites chief executives of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google to appear before virtual session as major regulatory overhaul looms
Facebook Refers Donald Trump Ban Decision To Oversight Board
Hot potato. Mark Zuckerberg refers his decision to indefinitely suspend Donald Trump over to its independent oversight board
Google Warns It May Withdraw Search Engine From Australia
Nuclear option. Google executive warns it will withdraw search engine from Australia due to ‘unworkable’ publisher payments law
Some Laptops For Vulnerable Children Contain Malware – Report
A small number of laptops handed out by the Department for Education to vulnerable children, reportedly contain malware linked to Russian servers
Outgoing FCC Boss Ajit Pai Warns Of China Threat
China continues to pose espionage and cyber threat to US telecommunications networks, says FCC chairman as he steps down after three years in charge
Google Seeks To Move ‘Meritless’ Collusion Lawsuit To California
Lawsuit by US states filed in Texas, alleging Google collusion with Facebook, should be heard in California instead says Google
EU Takes Aim At Google Advertising Practices In Antitrust Probe
European Commission seeks information from advertisers, as it opens second EU antitrust probe of Google and its practices
Trump Pardons Former Google Engineer Anthony Levandowski
Engineer who stole self-driving car secrets from Google’s Waymo division, receives pardon from outgoing US President Donald Trump
Turkey Hits Twitter With Ad Ban Under New Law
Controversial law in Turkey governing social media firms, sees Ankara imposing advertising bans on Twitter, Periscope and Pinterest
Apple’s Tim Cook Defends Parler Suspension
Amid criticism of big tech ‘censorship’ of free speech, Tim Cook defends decision to suspend far right Parler app from App Store
US States Investigating Google App Store Practices
Group of US states may hit Google with fourth government antitrust lawsuit, this time focusing on allegedly anti-competitive practices in its Play Store
US Adds Xiaomi To Military Blacklist
Xiaomi and eight other Chinese companies added to US military blacklist, as outgoing US administration throws final punches
Fortnite Maker Expands Apple Dispute To UK
Fortnite developer Epic Games launches legal action against Apple and Google in the UK, as it seeks changes to ‘unfair’ app store rules
US Administration Revokes Huawei Export Licences
Outgoing US administration revokes some tech export licences to Huawei and plans to deny others, in final moves against Chinese telecoms giant
Police Delete Database Containing 150,000 Records
Police database falls down some stairs. British coppers accidentally delete data on 150,000 people from the Police National Computer
Swedish Court Rejects Huawei Appeal Over 5G Ban
Appeal by Huawei against Swedish regulator’s decision to exclude it from 5G networks dismissed, with 5G auction slated to begin next week
Australian Government Slams Google For Blocking Local Content
Users in Australia complain after Google blocks local websites, after Australia seeks to force tech firms to pay for news content
Death Threats Against Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou
A number of death threats allegedly made against Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou, whilst she remains under house arrest in Vancouver
Twitter’s Jack Dorsey: Trump Ban Right Thing To Do
CEO of Twitter opens up about permanent ban on outgoing US President Donald Trump, after criticism from some quarters over ‘freedom of speech’
YouTube Suspends Donald Trump Channel
Google streaming service YouTube becomes latest social network to suspend President Donald Trump, following attempted insurrection
Signal Installations Surge Amid WhatsApp Data Concerns
Research shows installations of Signal messaging app approaching one million a day, amid concern over WhatsApp data policy update
Parler Sues Amazon Web Services After Hosting Takedown
Consequences from President Trump’s attempted coup last week continues, with Google and Apple removing Parler from app stores
Twitter Permanently Bans Donald Trump
Outgoing US President Donald Trump reportedly went ‘ballistic’ after he was permanently banned from his favoured messaging outlet
Google Faces UK Investigation Over Chrome Cookie Change
The UK’s CMA opens investigation of Google’s proposals to remove third-party cookies and other functions from Chrome browser
Facebook Bans Donald Trump ‘Indefinitely’ After Capitol Killings
With five dead including a police officer and talk of his immediate removal from office, Mark Zuckerberg extends Donald Trump’s ban
Hackney Council Hackers Post Stolen Documents
New low… Ransomware gang publishes sensitive documents online, after crippling Hackney Council systems in October last year
WhatsApp Will Share Data With Facebook, Despite User Wishes
What is the point of end-to-end encryption? Facebook to access people’s WhatsApp data, whether they like it or not, from February
NEC Facial Recognition Works Despite Masks
NEC launches facial recognition system that can identify people, even if they are wearing masks to protect against Coronavirus
Russia Behind SolarWinds Hack – US Intelligence
Russia was the likely culprit of the damaging SolarWinds supply chain compromise, multiple US intelligence agencies declare