Meta is changing its ad policy in Europe following a major fine. Starting in January, users will get a new choice to see fewer ads based on their personal data. It’s a big shift forced by the EU’s new tech rules.
In a dramatic escalation of their feud, X claims it banned the European Commission’s advertising account for a rules violation. This came just one day after the EU slapped X with a roughly $140 million fine for alleged deceptive practices and lack of transparency.
Microsoft is facing a massive user revolt as a staggering one billion PCs remain on Windows 10. Despite ending support, half of all eligible machines are refusing the upgrade to Windows 11, with many users citing Microsoft’s aggressive AI integration as a major turn-off.
India’s government is considering a mandate to force smartphone makers to permanently activate precise A-GPS tracking. The move comes right after a failed attempt to force a state-run app on all phones, signaling a major new privacy battle.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the actor who defined the villain Shang Tsung in the 1995 Mortal Kombat film, has died. His career spanned nearly 40 years, from The Last Emperor to Blue Eye Samurai, but he remained a legend to gamers.
The privacy-focused company Proton has launched a new encrypted spreadsheet tool called Proton Sheets. It aims to provide a familiar, collaborative workspace without the data collection of its mainstream rivals.
The European Commission is preparing to launch a probe into Meta’s integration of AI features into WhatsApp, according to a Financial Times report. The investigation would use traditional antitrust laws and follows a similar probe already underway in Italy.
Germany’s antitrust authority is running a critical market test on Apple’s proposed fixes for its App Tracking Transparency framework. The investigation, launched in June 2022, found Apple gave itself a systematic advantage. The final ruling could set a global precedent.
A large-scale study has found that 12-year-olds who own a smartphone face significantly higher health risks than their peers without one. The data shows clear associations with depression, obesity, and sleep deprivation, prompting a call for more careful consideration from parents.
The UK government is moving forward with a plan to ban ransomware payments for public sector and critical infrastructure. Security Minister Dan Jarvis says “national security exemptions” will be included to avoid impossible choices for organizations.
