European Commission sounds out Google and Fitbit competitors about competitiona and privacy concerns as regulators increase pressure on big tech companies
News regulation
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
US ‘To Allow Companies To Work With Huawei On 5G Standards’
Change comes after earlier US measures against Huawei had backfired, resulting in American companies disengaging from 5G standards processes
UK Regulator Probes Facebook Giphy Deal On Competition Issues
CMA says it will look into any possible ‘lessening of competition’ in the UK as a result of the deal, while other raise data concerns
Huawei Touts ‘Commitment’ To UK 5G Amidst Review
Huawei says UK’s ‘own interests’ at stake in decision on whether to allow it to help build 5G networks, warning of economic losses in the tens of billions
Reddit Co-Founder Quits In Racism Protest
Alexis Ohanian leaves Reddit’s board of directors and says he will donate $1m to charity in move protesting hate speech and racial inequality
Facebook Hit By Staff Backlash Over Trump Posts
Facebook’s Zuckerberg singled out for criticism by senior-level staff after allowing presidential post that Twitter labelled as ‘glorifying violence’
Tile Accuses Apple Of Anti-Competitive Practices
Tile files complaint with European Commission ahead of expected launch of Apple locator device that competes more directly with Tile
Uber Passenger Says Price-Fixing Arbitrator Acted Out Of ‘Fear’
Uber passenger asks court to reopen price-fixing lawsuit against the company, saying arbitrator who ruled in Uber’s favour feared for his own security
US Tightens Export Controls In Move Aimed At Huawei
US Commerce Department to bar overseas semiconductor manufacturers from selling to Huawei and HiSilicon if they use US-made chip gear
Elon Musk Tweet Erases $14bn From Tesla’s Market Value
Musk’s latest series of bizarre tweets criticises California’s coronavirus lockdown and says Tesla’s shares are ‘too high’, causing them to plummet
US Government Calls On Amazon’s Bezos To Testify
House of Representatives calls for testimony from Bezos amidst probe into whether company used data from third-party sellers to develop its own products
Regulator Approves Just Eat’s £6bn Merger With Takeaway.com
CMA ‘satisfied’ there are no competition concerns with Just Eat merger, as food delivery apps become vital lifeline during coronavirus pandemic lockdown
Libra Scales Back Cryptocurrency Plans Amidst Furore
Facebook-backed cryptocurrency association to issue digital versions of single currencies, stepping back from controversial synthetic coin scheme
Regulator Gives Green Light To Amazon’s Deliveroo Stake
Competition and Markets Authority gives provisional approval to £460m investment round after warning Deliveroo likely to collapse without new funds
ZTE Targeted By New US Corruption Probe
Two years after export ban that nearly destroyed ZTE, US Justice Department now reportedly involved in a new probe into bribery and corruption
Government’s Huawei Decision Faces Parliamentary Inquiry
Commons defence committee now plans to review government’s decision to allow Huawei a 5G role, as Conservative rebels seek a complete ban
Drone Industry Up In Arms Over ‘Remote ID’ Regulations
US regulator proposes ‘digital licence plate’ for drones, but critics say regulations would be expensive and complex to implement
US State Sues Google For ‘Illegally Gathering Data On Children’
Federal lawsuit by US state of New Mexico accuses Google of illegally gathering students’ data via G Suite for Education products and Chromebooks
Zuckerberg Urges Closer Regulation Of Social Media
Social media companies should be regulated as something between a newspaper and a telecommunications firm, Facebook chief tells conference
Government To Put Ofcom In Charge Of Regulating Internet Content
More powers on the way for British communications watchdog Ofcom, after Government decides Internet firms cannot regulate themselves
MEPs Back Single Charger For Smartphones
Resolution calls for introduction of single charging method, in spite of Apple’s warning that new regulations would stifle innovation
ICO Children’s Data Rules Meet With Divided Response
Upcoming regulations hailed as a pioneering step to protect children’s data online, but some fear they could favour big tech companies
Petition Claims Tesla Vehicles To Blame for ‘Sudden Acceleration’ Crashes
US authorities reviewing claims that some Tesla electric vehicles are prone to suddenly accelerate and cause crashes, amidst company’s denials
Huawei Strikes Deal With TomTom For Smartphone Mapping Services
Arrangement with Dutch navigation devices and services provider comes as Huawei looks for ways around US trade ban imposed last year
Alphabet’s Pichai Urges ‘Proportionate’ AI Regulation
Chief executive of Google parent urges regulators to refrain from a heavy-handed approach to new AI rules as EU readies proposals
Austria ‘Working With EU Partners’ On Huawei 5G Decision
Country does not rule out deploying Chinese-made equipment in its 5G networks amidst heavy US lobbying of UK and other allies
EU Proposes Five-Year Ban On Facial Recognition Technology
European Commission could temporarily bar facial recognition in public places as new rules to protect individuals’ privacy are worked out