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Google gets pointers from EU regulators on helping AI rivals access services

Google gets pointers from EU regulators on helping AI rivals access services

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, April 27 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google was given pointers by EU antitrust regulators on Monday on how to help online search rivals and artificial intelligence developers access its services such as those available to its Gemini AI model under rules aimed at reining in Big

EU countries, lawmakers fail to reach deal on watered-down AI rules

EU countries, lawmakers fail to reach deal on watered-down AI rules

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, April 29 (Reuters) - EU countries and European Parliament lawmakers failed to reach a deal on watered-down landmark artificial intelligence rules after 12 hours of negotiations on Tuesday and will resume talks next month.

Europe's Shift from U.S. Software to Sovereign Tech Raises Data Privacy Concerns

Europe's Shift from U.S. Software to Sovereign Tech Raises Data Privacy Concerns

European countries are increasingly moving away from U.S.-based software solutions in favor of 'sovereign tech' to enhance data privacy and control. This shift is largely a response to the U.S. CLOUD Act, which mandates that American tech companies comply with U.S. law enforcement data requests, even if the data is stored overseas. France, for instance, has decided to transition its Health Data Hub from Microsoft Azure to a local provider, Scaleway. This move is part of a broader European effort to reduce dependency on American tech giants like Google and Microsoft. The European Commission has also awarded contracts to local cloud providers, excluding major U.S. companies like Amazon from certain tenders.

European Securities Regulator Warns of Growing Cyber Threats Amid AI Advancements

European Securities Regulator Warns of Growing Cyber Threats Amid AI Advancements

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has raised concerns about the increasing risks of cyberattacks, exacerbated by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) models. Verena Ross, chair of ESMA, highlighted the potential for AI to accelerate the speed and sophistication of cyber threats. The financial sector is particularly vulnerable, as demonstrated by recent reports of a new AI model, Mythos, developed by U.S. company Anthropic, which can identify and exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities. ESMA is actively engaging with financial entities to assess their cybersecurity measures in response to these developments. The regulator is also considering the inclusion of AI providers in the list of critical third-party providers to enhance tech resilience within the EU's finance industry.

China Criticizes EU's Industrial Acceleration Act, Considers Retaliation

China Criticizes EU's Industrial Acceleration Act, Considers Retaliation

China's Ministry of Commerce has expressed strong opposition to the European Union's Industrial Acceleration Act, which aims to boost demand for low-carbon, European-made technologies. The Act, launched by the European Commission, includes measures that China claims impose restrictive requirements on foreign investment, potentially violating World Trade Organization principles. The Act targets strategic sectors such as clean technologies, car manufacturing, and energy-intensive industries, with specific EU-content requirements for products like electric vehicles and aluminum. China has indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue with the EU to mitigate the policy's impact but has also warned of possible countermeasures to protect its business interests if discussions fail.

European AI Act Faces Criticism for Potential Innovation Constraints

European AI Act Faces Criticism for Potential Innovation Constraints

The European Union's AI Act, designed to regulate artificial intelligence, is facing criticism for potentially stifling innovation. The Act aims to ensure AI systems are documented, auditable, and capable of independent scrutiny, particularly in high-risk areas such as health and climate. However, there is concern that the regulation may hinder technological advancement by imposing stringent compliance requirements. The Act is part of a broader regulatory framework that includes sustainability reporting and due diligence directives, which are reshaping corporate practices in Europe. Critics argue that while the Act's intentions are noble, its execution may lead to administrative paralysis and limit the agility of tech startups.

Australia Implements Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

Australia Implements Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

Australia has enacted a groundbreaking social media ban for children under 16, effective December 10. The law mandates social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent children from creating or maintaining accounts. This applies to major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The ban aims to protect young Australians from online risks and pressures, with companies facing fines up to $33 million USD for non-compliance. While some parents and child advocates support the measure, social media companies have expressed concerns about its effectiveness and potential unintended consequences.

China Criticizes EU's Industrial Accelerator Act, Considers Retaliation

China Criticizes EU's Industrial Accelerator Act, Considers Retaliation

China's Ministry of Commerce has expressed strong criticism of the European Union's Industrial Accelerator Act, which was launched by the European Commission in March. The Act aims to boost demand for low-carbon, European-made technologies and products. According to a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce, the Act imposes restrictive requirements on foreign investment and may violate World Trade Organization principles. The Ministry argues that the preferential 'EU origin' tag in public procurement and support policies creates investment barriers and institutional discrimination. China has indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue with the EU to address these concerns but has also warned of potential countermeasures to protect its business interests if discussions fail.

Meta Settles Israeli Class Action Over Cambridge Analytica Scandal

Meta Settles Israeli Class Action Over Cambridge Analytica Scandal

Meta Settles Israeli Class Action Over Cambridge Analytica Scandal

Australia to charge Big Tech companies 2% levy unless they strike local news deals

Australia to charge Big Tech companies 2% levy unless they strike local news deals

By Christine Chen and Byron Kaye SYDNEY, April 28 (Reuters) - The Australian government said on Tuesday that Meta, Alphabet's Google and TikTok could face multimillion-dollar charges if they did not negotiate deals to pay local media outlets for news on their platforms.

Beijing blocks Meta acquisition of Chinese AI startup Manus

Beijing blocks Meta acquisition of Chinese AI startup Manus

BEIJING, April 27 (Reuters) - China's state planner blocked U.S. tech giant Meta's purchase of Chinese artificial intelligence startup Manus on Monday, ordering the cancellation of the deal as Beijing and Washington jostle over supremacy in frontier industries.

Meta Agrees to Pay Settlement in Israel Over Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal

Meta Agrees to Pay Settlement in Israel Over Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal

Meta has agreed to a multimillion-shekel settlement in a class action lawsuit filed in Israel related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. The Central District Court approved the settlement, which involves Meta paying approximately 8.1 million shekels ($2.2 million) to fund academic research and democracy education. The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleged that Meta allowed third-party apps to collect personal data of Facebook users without consent, which was then used by Cambridge Analytica for political campaigns. Meta has denied the allegations, stating that users consented to data-sharing practices and that the impact on Israeli users was minimal.