Fortnite developer Epic Games launches legal action against Apple and Google in the UK, as it seeks changes to ‘unfair’ app store rules
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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
YouTube Suspends Donald Trump Channel
Google streaming service YouTube becomes latest social network to suspend President Donald Trump, following attempted insurrection
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
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
YouTube Reinstates TalkRadio Channel After Ban Decision
Streaming service YouTube restores talkRADIO after a “further review” of its controversial decision to remove it over Covid-19 content
Google To Add Privacy Labels To Its iOS App Portfolio
Bad news for advertisers. Search giant is to update all its iOS apps to carry Apple’s privacy labels that will disclose how data is used
YouTube Axes TalkRadio Channel
Coronavirus misinformation speculated as reason for YouTube removing Ofcom-regulated TalkRadio from its streaming platform
Google Staff Form Company’s First Ever Trade Union
Rare step for tech industry sees workers at Google form their own bespoke trade union, after years of employee unrest and complaints
Google Asked AI Researchers To Strike Positive Tone – Report
Scientific papers generated internally at the search engine giant are now subjected to “sensitive topics” review, it has been reported
Google, Facebook Team Up To Tackle Antitrust Lawsuit – Report
Both firms agreed to ‘cooperate and assist one another’, after antitrust lawsuit last week from US states over online advertising ‘collusion’
Judge Proposes 2023 Trial Date For Google Antitrust Case
Judge says Google’s Justice Department trial unlikely to go to court before mid-2023, as trial proceedings appear set to go on for years
Google Hit With Third Antitrust Lawsuit
Another day, another antitrust lawsuit. More legal action alleging Google operates a search monopoly, and prevents Alexa in speakers using Google Assistant
Google Wins EU Approval For Fitbit Deal
Over a year since Google announced it was acquiring fitness device maker in a $2.1bn deal, EU gives its official blessing
Google Staff Seek Removal Of VP Involved In Timnit Gebru ‘Firing’
AI staff at Google demand removal of company executive involved in departure of prominent female ethics researcher Dr Timnit Gebru
Google Sued By 10 US States For Alleged Facebook Collusion
Ten US states sue Google, alleging it worked with Facebook to break US antitrust law to bolster its online advertising business
Big Tech Firms Face EU Fines Of 10 Percent Of Turnover
Yearly checks on tech firm compliance over harmful content, plus stiff financial penalties part of EU’s proposed regulation of digital markets
Facebook To Move UK Users To US Data Agreements
Escaping GDPR protections? Social networking giant Facebook insists move will not change privacy controls or the services it offers
Google Outage Affects Offices, Homes Worldwide
Google authentication failure knocks out broad array of services across the world, including Google Cloud, Google Suite, YouTube, Nest and Google Home
California Asks To Join US DOJ Google Lawsuit
California attorney general becomes first Democrat to support federal antitrust action against Google, as states mull additional actions
Google Fined $121 Million By French Watchdog Over Cookies
Stiff financial penalty imposed on Google by French privacy watchdog, which at the time also fined Amazon over advertising cookies
Google Investigates Dismissal Of AI Expert Timnit Gebru
After Google staff and outside academics slam Google, Sundar Pichai says it will examine departure of the prominent female AI researcher
Australia Finalises Plan For Google, Facebook To Pay Publishers For News
Google and Facebook continue to object, but Australia presses ahead with new law to force them to pay publishers for news content
Support Grows For ‘Fired’ Google AI Expert
Open letter signed by more than 4,500 people, including academics and DeepMind researchers, expresses support for Timnit Gebru
Chinese Researchers Claim Quantum Supremacy Breakthrough
Chinese photon-based quantum computer carries out experiment that would take supercomputer billions of years, following Google breakthrough last year
EU To Propose ‘Two-Tier’ Rules For Tech Giants
European Union proposals outline ‘asymmetric’ approach to regulating largest tech companies, as UK shapes up plans for ‘tailored’ digital rules
Google Fires AI Researcher Timnit Gebru – Report
Prominent AI researcher Dr Timnit Gebru claims she was fired over email to colleagues, but Google insists she didn’t follow procedure
Google Violated Law By Spying On Staff, Complaint Alleges
Complaint alleges Google broke US labour laws when it ‘spied’ on staff who organised employee protests, before firing them
Trump Threatens To Veto US Defence Bill Over Section 230 Protection
President Trump warns that unless Section 230 liability protection for social networking firms is removed, he will veto a major US Defence bill
Google DeepMind Solves 50 Year Old Folding Protein Problem
Breakthrough at Google’s AI unit DeepMind allow researchers to determine a protein’s 3D shape from its amino-acid sequence