Fortnite developer Epic Games launches legal action against Apple and Google in the UK, as it seeks changes to ‘unfair’ app store rules
News regulation
UK Drone Regulation Update ‘Clarifies Rules’
UK brings in new drone rules to harmonise regulatory environment across Europe, with light-weight devices now permitted to fly around people
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
Ofcom Urges Telecoms Provider Aid For Vulnerable Households
Ofcom tells providers to ‘do more’ for homes hit by economic turmoil, as coronavirus lockdown lays bare people’s dependence on connectivity
EU To Impose Major Fines In Tech Regulation Overhaul
Digital Services Act to be unveiled by European Commission this week imposes fines of up to 6 percent of companies’ turnover for breach of new rules
Government To Require Social Media ‘Impartiality’
Social media companies face large fines for failing to remove illegal or dangerous content, along with requirement to protect impartiality
US Telecoms Networks Ordered To Remove Huawei Kit
US telecoms regulator orders rural networks reliant on federal funding to rip out existing Huawei gear, begins proceedings against China Telecom
Germany Opens Competition Probe Into Facebook And Oculus
German competition authority reacts after company requires Facebook login to use new Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headsets
Facebook Removes Thousands Of Illegal UK Ads
Facebook removes more than 2,000 ads exploiting health fears and selling dubious Covid-19 cures in first half of 2020 as regulators tighten grip
European Commission Approves French Fibre Acquisition
Altice/SFR gets the go-ahead to buy wholesale rival Covage, but will spin off its fibre-to-the-office operations into an independent unit
Government Told To Open Up On AI Decision-Making
Government advisory body publishes roadmap to ‘responsible’ use of AI and algorithms, following summer chaos over computer-determined school grades
Google, Justice Department Clash On Data Protection Order
Google and US Justice Department disagree on access to confidential data supplied by Microsoft and others, as landmark antitrust case gears up
Google Apologises Over Leaked EU Strategy Document
Google chief executive Sundar Pichai apologises to EU commissioner Thierry Breton over leaked document recommending ‘pushback’ over new competition rules
European Commission Warns Of Rising Pandemic Scam Risk
European Commission tells internet media and e-commerce companies to prepare for increase in Covid-19-related scams and disinformation as cases rise
New EU Rules ‘Would Open Tech Giants’ Algorithms To Scrutiny’
Proposed Digital Services Act would force tech giants to explain their ad targeting algorithms and open ad archives to researchers, says EU competition chief
Judge Lays Out Opening Moves In Google Antitrust Trial
US judge sets mid-November deadline for Google’s response to Justice Department antitrust lawsuit, with a status update at the end of this week
Italy Blocks Telco From Implementing Huawei 5G Deal
Italian government bars Swisscom’s Italian unit, Fastweb, from following through on 5G deal with Huawei as European countries take tougher line against China
Google Makes More Concessions On Fitbit Deal
Additional concessions by Google over £1.6bn Fitbit acquisition likely to win over EU competition regulators, as proposed deal nears one-year anniversary
US Regulator Demands New Hearing On Qualcomm Decision
US Federal Trade Commission asks appeals court to reconsider decision that struck down landmark Qualcomm antitrust injunction
EU Plans To Bring In Crypto-Asset Rules By 2024
Proposed EU rules to be published this month aim to bring crypto-assets into line with existing regulatory framework, but risk stifling innovation
TikTok US Ban Delayed As Trump Expresses Deal Approval
Trump says he approves of TikTok partnership with Oracle and Wal-Mart ‘in concept’, as judge blocks US download ban on WeChat
US Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google Coming ‘Within Weeks’
US Justice Department pushes ahead with competition lawsuit against Google as some within the department battle for more time to strengthen their case
Facebook Voices Support For Data Portability Law
Facebook says it would support dedicated data portability legislation in the US as an antitrust measure, ahead of key regulatory meeting next month
Microsoft Looks To Buy TikTok US Operations
Microsoft confirms it is in preliminary talks to buy TikTok’s operations in the US, as government threatens to ban the app over national security concerns
Wirecard Collapse Puts Pressure On Germany’s Finance Minister
One of Germany’s most prominent politicians comes under fire for ‘failure of responsibility’ after Wirecard falls into insolvency amidst fraud allegations
EU Urges US To Resume OECD Digital Tax Talks
EU says it still would still prefer to achieve digital tax compromise through OECD, but will push through new measures at EU level if talks fail
EU Signals Broader Probe Into Google’s Fitbit Buy
European Commission sounds out Google and Fitbit competitors about competitiona and privacy concerns as regulators increase pressure on big tech companies
German Financial Regulator Expresses Shock At Wirecard ‘Disaster’
Munich fintech start-up Wirecard says £1.7bn missing from its accounts probably never existed, as cheif executive quits and prosecutors consider arrests
Apple’s App Store ‘Facilitates More Than $500bn’ In Trade Worldwide
Apple says App Store facilitates more than half a trillion dollars in worldwide trade, with the lion’s share being physical sales from which it doesn’t take a commission
Amazon Agrees To Make Bezos Available To Congress
Company had previously resisted making Bezos voluntarily available to testify in congressional antitrust probe that also involves Apple, Facebook and Google