Search Results for: apple eu

New EU rules would require chat apps to scan private messages for child abuse

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The European Commission has proposed controversial new regulation that would require chat apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to selectively scan users’ private messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and “grooming” behavior. The proposal is similar to plans mooted by Apple last year but, say critics, much more invasive. After a draft of the Read more about New EU rules would require chat apps to scan private messages for child abuse[…]

Dutch watchdog fines Apple $5.7 million for 3rd weekly time in App Store dispute

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Dutch antitrust watchdog on Monday fined apple Apple (AAPL.O) 5 million euros ($5.72 million) for a third time for failing to allow software application makers in the Netherlands to use non-Apple payment methods for dating apps listed in the company’s App Store. The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has been levying weekly fines Read more about Dutch watchdog fines Apple $5.7 million for 3rd weekly time in App Store dispute[…]

EU’s Latest Internet Regulatory Madness: Destroying Internet Security With Its Digital Identity Framework

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU is at it again. Recently Mozilla put out a position paper highlighting the latest dangerous move by busybody EU regulators who seem to think that they can magically regulate the internet without (1) understanding it, or (2) bothering to talk to people who do understand it. The issue is the Digital Identity Framework, Read more about EU’s Latest Internet Regulatory Madness: Destroying Internet Security With Its Digital Identity Framework[…]

Client-Side Scanning Is An Insecure Nightmare Just Waiting To Be Exploited By Governments or companies. Apple basically installing spyware under a nice name.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In August, Apple declared that combating the spread of CSAM (child sexual abuse material) was more important than protecting millions of users who’ve never used their devices to store or share illegal material. While encryption would still protect users’ data and communications (in transit and at rest), Apple had given itself permission to inspect data Read more about Client-Side Scanning Is An Insecure Nightmare Just Waiting To Be Exploited By Governments or companies. Apple basically installing spyware under a nice name.[…]

Apple’s iPhone computer vision has the potential to preserve privacy but also break it completely

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] an AI on your phone will scan all those you have sent and will send to iPhotos. It will generate fingerprints that purportedly identify pictures, even if highly modified, that will be checked against fingerprints of known CSAM material. Too many of these – there’s a threshold – and Apple’s systems will let Apple Read more about Apple’s iPhone computer vision has the potential to preserve privacy but also break it completely[…]

Android, Apple Mobile Ecosystems Face UK Antitrust Probe Amid Competition Fears

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google and Apple Inc. face a sweeping probe into the “duopoly” power of their mobile ecosystems, in the U.K. antitrust watchdog’s latest attack on Silicon Valley. The increasingly tech-focused Competition and Markets Authority opened a 12-month market study into broad aspects of the iOS and Android systems, saying it feared the companies’ dominance is stifling Read more about Android, Apple Mobile Ecosystems Face UK Antitrust Probe Amid Competition Fears[…]

Indian government slams Facebook over WhatsApp ‘privacy’ update, wants its own Europe-style opt-out switch

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Indian government has sent a fierce letter to Facebook over its decision to update the privacy rules around its WhatsApp chat service, and asked the antisocial media giant to put a halt to the plans.In an email from the IT ministry to WhatsApp head Will Cathcart, provided to media outlets, the Indian government notes Read more about Indian government slams Facebook over WhatsApp ‘privacy’ update, wants its own Europe-style opt-out switch[…]

Jailbreak app store Cydia files its own antitrust lawsuit against Apple

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Cydia, the original app store for jailbroken iPhones, has joined a wave of companies and regulators in targeting Apple over antitrust concerns. In a lawsuit it filed on Thursday, it accused Apple of “anti-competitive acquisition and maintenance of an illegal monopoly over iOS app distribution.” Were that not the case, Cydia argues, users would “be Read more about Jailbreak app store Cydia files its own antitrust lawsuit against Apple[…]

Apple braces for antitrust woes by letting users select and install third-party apps during setup of iOS 14.3

Posted on by Robin Edgar

iOS 14.3 will prompt some users to install selected third-party applications during setup, in what is likely an attempt to stifle any allegations of anticompetitive behaviour from regulators. The feature, which is buried deep within the beta version of the upcoming iOS release and was first spotted by 9to5Mac, is believed to be activated depending Read more about Apple braces for antitrust woes by letting users select and install third-party apps during setup of iOS 14.3[…]

Not one to be outdone by Microsoft, Apple’s cloud fell over too. Unlike Microsoft, it hasn’t said what happened

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The rivalry between Apple and Microsoft continued last night as the fruity firm’s cloud services took a tumble a mere day after Azure crapped itself. While Apple has remained silent on what happened (we asked; it did not respond), the vast majority of its services wobbled over a two-hour period early this morning (UK time). Read more about Not one to be outdone by Microsoft, Apple’s cloud fell over too. Unlike Microsoft, it hasn’t said what happened[…]

Facebook says it may quit Europe over ban on sharing data with US

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Facebook has warned that it may pull out of Europe if the Irish data protection commissioner enforces a ban on sharing data with the US, after a landmark ruling by the European court of justice found in July that there were insufficient safeguards against snooping by US intelligence agencies. In a court filing in Dublin, Read more about Facebook says it may quit Europe over ban on sharing data with US[…]

Spotify blasts Apple One service as ‘anti-competitive’, wants regulators to act

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a statement, the streaming service argued Apple One will “deprive consumers by favoring its own services” and urged regulators to take action against what it perceives to be “anti-competitive behavior”. Announced yesterday at Cupertino’s Time Flies launch event, Apple One bundles the firm’s various subscription services into a single monthly payment. The product is Read more about Spotify blasts Apple One service as ‘anti-competitive’, wants regulators to act[…]

Brit MPs to Apple CEO: Please stop ignoring our questions about repairability and the environment

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The UK’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) says Apple is still not answering questions relating to its record on the environmental sustainability and repairability of its iStuff. The EAC – a sounder of Members of Parliament that sit on the select committee in the House of Commons – asked the American company to get involved in Read more about Brit MPs to Apple CEO: Please stop ignoring our questions about repairability and the environment[…]

Italy is investigating Apple, Google and Dropbox cloud storage services

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Italy’s competition watchdog is investing Apple, Google and Dropbox, TechCrunch reports. In a press release, the AGCM announced that it opened six investigations into the companies’ cloud storage services: Google Drive, iCloud and Dropbox. The authority is concerned that the services fail to adequately explain how user data will be collected and used for commercial Read more about Italy is investigating Apple, Google and Dropbox cloud storage services[…]

Apple Has Finally Gotten Too Big for Its Britches – and even Kinja group is pissed off now

Posted on by Robin Edgar

What started out as a battle between Apple and Epic over direct in-app purchases in Fortnite has evolved into an ill-advised, petty revenge scheme. On Sunday, Epic filed a new motion to bar Apple from revoking iOS and macOS support for its Unreal Engine while its other beef is ongoing. To back up a bit, Read more about Apple Has Finally Gotten Too Big for Its Britches – and even Kinja group is pissed off now[…]

News outlets join Epic in challenging Apple’s app store terms

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Major news organizations are joining Epic Games in the push for Apple to rethink its app store terms following Fortnite’s high-profile ban this month. Digital Content Next, a trade organization representing the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and dozens of other media outlets and publishers (including yours truly, G/O Media), Read more about News outlets join Epic in challenging Apple’s app store terms[…]

Fortnight Has Laid a Perfect Antitrust Trap for Apple and Google

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Everyone is mad about Apple’s App Store guidelines right now, especially when it comes to cloud gaming services. Microsoft isn’t bringing Project xCloud to iOS. Google’s Stadia app can’t let iPhone users actually play games. Facebook also had to axe the ability to play games for its Facebook Gaming iOS app to be allowed in Read more about Fortnight Has Laid a Perfect Antitrust Trap for Apple and Google[…]

Russia’s antitrust watchdog finds Apple abused App Store ‘dominance’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Following a year-long investigation into the company, Reuters reports Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has found the iPhone-maker abused its dominant position in the mobile app marketplace and will order Apple to resolve multiple regulatory breaches. The agency started investigating the tech giant after developer Kaspersky Lab filed a complaint over the rejection of its Read more about Russia’s antitrust watchdog finds Apple abused App Store ‘dominance’[…]

Microsoft raised Apple’s app store with US house antitrust group

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A US House antitrust committee is getting set to grill tech’s biggest CEOs, but Microsoft wants them to focus on one in particular: Apple’s Tim Cook. Microsoft President Brad Smith met with the committee several weeks ago and relayed concerns about how Apple manages its App Store, according to the The Information (via Bloomberg). Smith Read more about Microsoft raised Apple’s app store with US house antitrust group[…]

Epic Games CEO speaks out against Apple, Google app store monopoly

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Fortnite developer Epic Games, criticized Apple and Google for having an “absolute monopoly” on app stores in a Friday interview with CNBC. There aren’t many viable options for distributing mobile software outside the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, and Sweeney chides both for taking a 30 percent fee Read more about Epic Games CEO speaks out against Apple, Google app store monopoly[…]

EU demands strange concessions from Google over Fitbit deal – wants to share movement data to third parties

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU has demanded that Google make major concessions relating to its $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness-tracking company Fitbit if the deal is to be allowed to proceed imminently, according to people with direct knowledge of the discussions. Since it was announced last November, the acquisition has faced steep opposition from consumer groups and regulators, Read more about EU demands strange concessions from Google over Fitbit deal – wants to share movement data to third parties[…]

Apple: We’re defending your privacy by nixing 16 browser APIs. Rivals: You mean defending your bottom line

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple has said it has decided not to implement 16 web APIs in its Safari browser’s WebKit engine in part because they pose a privacy threat. Critics of the iGiant, including competitors like Google, see Apple’s stance as a defense against a competitive threat. These APIs, developed in recent years to allow web developers to Read more about Apple: We’re defending your privacy by nixing 16 browser APIs. Rivals: You mean defending your bottom line[…]

Amazon Set to Face Antitrust Charges in European Union

Posted on by Robin Edgar

European Union officials are preparing to bring antitrust charges against Amazon for abusing its dominance in internet commerce to box out smaller rivals, according to people with knowledge of the case. Nearly two years in the making, the case is one of the most aggressive attempts by a government to crimp the power of the Read more about Amazon Set to Face Antitrust Charges in European Union[…]

EU Commission to staff: Switch to Signal messaging app

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The European Commission has told its staff to start using Signal, an end-to-end-encrypted messaging app, in a push to increase the security of its communications. The instruction appeared on internal messaging boards in early February, notifying employees that “Signal has been selected as the recommended application for public instant messaging.” The app is favored by privacy Read more about EU Commission to staff: Switch to Signal messaging app[…]

The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo laptop with two 4K screens – for some reason people are comparing to Apples touch bar, but has nothing to do with that.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The ZenBook Pro Duo has not one, but two 4K screens. (At least if you’re counting horizontal pixels.) There’s a 15-inch 16:9 OLED panel where you’d normally find the display on a laptop, then a 32:9 IPS “ScreenPad Plus” screen directly above the keyboard that’s the same width and half the height. It’s as if Read more about The Asus ZenBook Pro Duo laptop with two 4K screens – for some reason people are comparing to Apples touch bar, but has nothing to do with that.[…]