Privacy and data protection

Dutch Watchdog fines Uber €290 million for data transfer violations

American multinational transportation company Uber faces a significant penalty of €290 million in the Netherlands for transferring the personal data of European taxi drivers to the United States. The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) ruled that the ride-hailing company violated the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by failing to safeguard the data appropriately. Data transfer to the US was deemed a serious breach of the EU privacy laws.

Uber, which has halted the practice, plans to appeal the fine, arguing that its data transfer process complied with GDPR during legal uncertainty between the EU and the US. The appeal process could extend over four years, during which any fines will be suspended.

The case originated from a complaint by a French human rights organisation on behalf of over 170 taxi drivers in France. Although the complaint was initially filed with France’s national data protection regulator, CNIL, it was forwarded to the Dutch DPA because Uber’s European headquarters is in the Netherlands.

Earlier this year, Uber was also fined €10 million by the DPA for other privacy infringements involving its drivers’ data. These fines reflect increasing scrutiny over how global tech companies handle sensitive data across borders.

Pavel Durov detained in France amid crime probe

According to French authorities, Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, was detained in France as part of an ongoing investigation into several serious crimes, including child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud. The arrest occurred at Le Bourget airport near Paris, and French President Emmanuel Macron later confirmed the news, stressing that the arrest was not politically motivated.

The arrest is tied to an investigation launched in July by the Paris prosecutor’s office, focusing on Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating illegal activities, including running an online platform for illicit transactions and refusing to provide information to authorities. The probe also includes allegations of money laundering and giving cryptographic services to criminals. Durov, who holds several citizenships, including the French, could be detained further as the investigation progresses.

Telegram, which boasts nearly a billion users worldwide and is especially popular in Russia and Ukraine, responded by stating that it complies with the EU laws and maintains industry-standard moderation practices.

The company dismissed claims that the platform or Durov himself was responsible for criminals’ app misuse.

On the other side, the Kremlin has expressed concerns that France’s accusations against Telegram founder Pavel Durov could be an attempt to limit freedom of communication unless supported by substantial evidence. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia is prepared to assist Durov due to his Russian citizenship, though his French citizenship presents additional challenges. Peskov emphasised that the gravity of the charges requires equally serious evidence to avoid perceptions of an effort to curtail communication freedoms.

Peskov also suggested that the case might be used to intimidate a prominent business leader and questioned French President Emmanuel Macron’s assertion that Durov’s detention was free from political motives. Russia has previously faced challenges in blocking Telegram and has fined the company for not removing content it deemed illegal.

The UAE has also called for clearer information about the arrest and investigation. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it is closely monitoring Pavel Durov’s case and has requested the French government to urgently provide consular services. The ministry emphasized prioritising its citizens’ care, safeguarding their interests, and ensuring comprehensive support are key commitments for the UAE.

Ultimately, Elon Musk confronted Emanuel Macron by responding directly to his post on X, claiming that ‘It would be helpful to the global public to understand more details about why he was arrested’, as he described it as an attack on free speech.

Recover hacked YouTube channels with Google’s AI Tool

Google has introduced a new AI-powered chat assistant to help YouTube creators recover hacked accounts. Currently, in testing, the tool is accessible to select users and aims to guide them through securing their accounts. The AI assistant will assist affected users by helping them regain control of their login details and reverse any changes made by hackers. Presently, the feature supports only the English language, but there are plans to expand its availability.

To use the new tool, users must visit the YouTube Help web page and log into their Google Account. They will then find the option to ‘Recover a hacked YouTube channel’ under the Help Centre menu. This new option opens a chat window with the AI assistant, who will guide them through securing their accounts.

Google’s latest innovation reflects its ongoing commitment to enhancing user security. Although the tool is in its early stages, efforts are being made to make it available to all YouTube creators.

As cyber threats evolve, Google’s AI assistant represents an important step forward in providing robust security solutions. The initiative shows the company’s dedication to protecting its users’ online presence.

California drivers can add licenses to Google Wallet

Google Wallet now supports digital driver’s licenses for Android users in California, marking a significant expansion of the state’s ‘mobile driver’s license’ program. The pilot, which includes 1.5 million Californians, previously limited digital IDs to the state’s ‘CA DMV Wallet’ app.

Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted the program’s convenience, emphasising how easy it has become to keep a digital driver’s license in California. Adding Google Wallet provides residents with another option for storing their digital identification.

Soon, Apple Wallet will also allow digital IDs in California, further broadening access. Despite these advancements, residents participating in the pilot must still carry their physical IDs, as digital versions are only accepted at select retail locations and TSA airports.

New appointment at Google’s AI division

Google has appointed Noam Shazeer, a former Google researcher and co-founder of Character.AI, as co-lead of its main AI project, Gemini. Shazeer will join Jeff Dean and Oriol Vinyals in overseeing the development of AI models at DeepMind, Google’s AI division, which are set to enhance products like Search and Pixel smartphones.

Shazeer rejoined Google after founding Character.AI in 2021. The tech giant secured his return by paying billions and striking a licensing agreement with his former company. Shazeer expressed excitement in a memo to staff, praising the team he has rejoined.

Originally joining Google in 2000, Shazeer was instrumental in the 2017 research that ignited the current AI boom. Character.AI, which leverages these advancements, has attracted significant venture capital, reaching a $1 billion valuation last year.

Google’s decision to bring Shazeer back echoes similar strategies by other tech giants, although these moves have drawn regulatory scrutiny. In related news, a US judge recently ruled that Google’s search engine violated antitrust laws by creating an illegal monopoly.

Apple to update browser and app settings in EU

Apple is set to make significant changes to how users in the European Union select default apps and browsers on their devices, responding to pressure from regulators under the new Digital Markets Act (DMA). Starting later this year, iPhone and iPad users will be able to choose a default browser from a ‘choice screen’ when they first open Safari. This screen will display a randomly ordered list of 12 browsers, allowing users to easily download and set their preferred option.

These updates come after criticism that Apple’s initial response to the DMA, implemented in March, did not fully comply with the new regulations. In addition to browser choices, Apple will introduce a dedicated section for setting default apps for functions like messaging, phone calls, and password management. The company will also allow users to delete more pre-installed Apple apps, such as App Store, Messages, and Safari, leaving only the Settings and Phone apps as non-deletable.

Apple has been in discussions with the European Commission and believes these updates will address regulatory concerns. The Commission, however, will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the changes meet the objectives of the DMA and will decide on further action as necessary.

Nepal lifts TikTok ban after nine months

Nepal lifted its ban on the Chinese-owned app TikTok more than nine months after blocking the platform due to concerns that it disrupted social harmony. The decision came after TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, agreed to collaborate with Nepalese authorities to address cybercrime issues and regulate content on the app.

The ban, initially imposed in November by Nepal’s previous government, was a response to the rising misuse of TikTok, with over 1,600 cases of TikTok-related cybercrime reported in the country. The ban sparked protests from users who argued that it cut off a source of income and a platform for free expression, affecting the app’s 2.2 million users in Nepal.

To secure the app’s reinstatement, TikTok committed to establishing a dedicated unit to work with Nepal’s Cyber Bureau to monitor and address inappropriate content and criminal activities. This collaboration aims to enable real-time identification of offenders, which authorities hope will curb the misuse of the platform.

Sweden and Denmark tackle gang recruitment on social media

Tech platforms are under increasing pressure from Sweden and Denmark to address the rising issue of gang recruitment ads targeting young Swedes. These ads, often found on platforms like Telegram and TikTok, are being used to recruit individuals for violent crimes across the Nordic region. Concerns have grown as Swedish gang violence has begun spilling over into neighbouring countries, with incidents of Swedish gang members being hired for violent acts in Denmark.

The justice ministers of both countries announced their plans to summon tech companies to discuss their role in enabling these activities. They will demand that the platforms take greater responsibility and implement stronger measures to prevent gang-related content. If the responses from these companies are deemed insufficient, further action may be considered to increase pressure on them.

Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard highlighted the challenges posed by encrypted services and social media, which are often used to facilitate criminal activities. Although current legal frameworks do not allow for geoblocking or shutting down such platforms, efforts are being made to explore new avenues to curb their misuse.

Sweden, which has the highest rate of gun violence in the European Union, recently announced plans to strengthen police cooperation across the Nordic region. The country is also increasing security measures at its borders with Denmark to prevent further cross-border gang activity. The growing concern over gang-related violence underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts between governments and tech platforms.

Surge in data centre construction across North America

North America’s data centre construction has soared by 70% compared to last year, with a record 3.9 gigawatts now under development, according to a recent CBRE Group report. This surge reflects the increasing demand for power-intensive data centres, driven by major technology companies expanding their artificial intelligence and cloud computing operations.

In the first half of 2024, over 500 megawatts of new data centres were introduced across the eight largest markets in the United States and Canada, equivalent to the entire capacity of Silicon Valley. New data centre inventory expanded by 10% during this period, representing a 23% increase from the previous year.

As new inventory rose, vacancy rates dropped to a historic low of 2.8%, with prices for newer data centres typically higher due to their advanced infrastructure. Older centres are unable to meet the growing power demands, further driving the pricing gap.

Smaller markets such as Northern Indiana, Idaho, Arkansas, and Kansas are expected to become more attractive as demand for modern facilities continues to rise.

Federal court reopens Google Chrome privacy case

Google must now contend with a class action lawsuit accusing it of collecting data through Chrome without user consent. A US federal appeals court has revived the case, overturning a 2022 decision that had dismissed it. The court highlighted the need for a closer examination of Google’s privacy disclosures to determine whether users genuinely understood and consented to the data collection.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, alleges that Google collected user data from Chrome even when they did not enable Chrome sync. Plaintiffs argue that browsing history, IP addresses, and unique browser identifiers were shared without explicit permission. Google has maintained that users consented by accepting its privacy policy, a stance previously upheld by a lower court.

However, the recent ruling suggests that the lower court may have overlooked whether users truly grasped the implications of their agreement with Google. The case will now return to the lower courts for further consideration. Google remains confident in its position, stating that Chrome Sync provides seamless functionality across devices while maintaining clear privacy controls.

Despite the ongoing legal challenge, Google spokesperson José Castañeda has emphasised that upcoming changes to Chrome’s sync feature, which will no longer be necessary for accessing saved information, are unrelated to the lawsuit.

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