Google is facing a billionaire lawsuit in London as Alphabet, its parent company, asked a tribunal to dismiss claims accusing the tech giant of abusing its dominance in the online search market. The lawsuit, which could amount to £7 billion ($9.3 billion), focuses on businesses’ costs when using Google’s search advertising services, which plaintiffs argue are ultimately passed on to consumers. The legal challenge is one of several targeting Google’s practices in recent years, including a similar case in Britain concerning its advertising market dominance and an ongoing antitrust trial in the United States.
Consumer rights advocate Nikki Stopford, representing the class of claimants, argues that Google’s overwhelming market presence allows it to increase costs unfairly. Her lawsuit also points to a €4.5 billion fine imposed by the European Commission in 2018 over Google’s restrictions on Android manufacturers, a decision currently being appealed. Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses Google of striking a deal with Apple to make its search engine the default on Apple’s Safari browser in exchange for a portion of mobile search ad revenues.
Google has dismissed these claims as unfounded. Its lawyer, Meredith Pickford, stated that the case is flawed, rejecting the notion that Google’s practices harmed consumers. Pickford also emphasised that Google’s agreement with Apple was legally sound and argued that the European Commission’s ruling was based on technicalities rather than substantive issues. The tribunal’s decision on whether the case will proceed to trial remains pending.
Meta Platforms will soon start using public posts on Facebook and Instagram to train its AI models in the UK. The company had paused its plans after regulatory concerns from the Irish privacy regulator and Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The AI training will involve content such as photos, captions, and comments but will exclude private messages and data from users under 18.
Meta faced privacy-related backlash earlier in the year, leading to its decision to halt the AI model launch in Europe. The company has since engaged with UK regulators, resulting in a clearer framework that allows the AI training plans to proceed. The new strategy simplifies the way users can object to their data being processed.
From next week, Facebook and Instagram users in the UK will receive in-app notifications explaining how their public posts may be used for AI training. Users will also be informed on how to object to the use of their data. Meta has extended the window in which objections can be filed, aiming to address transparency concerns raised by both the ICO and advocacy groups.
Earlier in June, Meta’s AI plans faced opposition from privacy advocacy groups like NOYB, which urged regulators to intervene. These groups argued that Meta’s notifications did not fully meet the EU’s privacy and transparency standards. Meta’s latest updates are seen as an effort to align with these regulatory demands.
Great Britain has recently designated its data centres as ‘critical national infrastructure,’ a move designed to bolster their protection against cyber threats. This new classification aligns data centres with other essential services, such as water and energy, highlighting their importance in maintaining the country’s communications and economy.
The announcement comes amidst significant investment in the sector. This includes a £3.75 billion plan by DC01UK to build Europe’s largest data centre in Hertfordshire and an £8 billion commitment by Amazon Web Services for UK operations over the next five years. These investments underscore the increasing importance of securing digital infrastructure.
UK technology minister Peter Kyle emphasised that the new designation would improve collaboration between the government and data centre operators. This collaboration aims to prevent disruptions and protect against cybercriminals. This move follows recent incidents such as the CrowdStrike outage in July, which revealed vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure and underscored the need for increased security.
TechUK calls on the government to address the critical issue of digital adoption among SMEs, which has been identified as a major barrier to economic growth and competitiveness. The organisation’s recent report underscores that over a quarter of UK SMEs still lack basic digital tools, impeding their productivity and ability to integrate advanced technologies like AI. By prioritising SME digitisation, the government can help close this gap, potentially adding up to £232 billion to the UK economy and enhancing the country’s position as a leading global economy.
To achieve this, TechUK recommends implementing a comprehensive strategy that includes creating a cross-departmental Forum to coordinate digital initiatives, appointing a Minister specifically responsible for digitisation, and developing a detailed digital adoption plan with clear targets for 2030. Expanding the Made Smarter Adoption programme to cover a broader range of sectors is crucial for ensuring that SMEs receive the necessary support to embrace digital technologies and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
TechUK urges the government to prioritise digital adoption to keep UK businesses competitive. Without basic tools, SMEs struggle with advanced technologies like AI. A strong support framework is needed to help SMEs overcome these challenges and embrace future tech.
In the aftermath of anti-immigration protests and riots in the UK, police have arrested 1,280 individuals, largely through the use of retrospective facial recognition. Authorities matched video footage from various sources, including body-worn cameras, social media, and CCTV, to identify and apprehend suspects. The violence, which erupted after a stabbing in Southport, resulted in the charging of 796 people by the end of August, with more suspects under investigation.
Throughout 29 demonstrations from late July to early August, the police swiftly moved cases to court. By early September, 570 individuals had faced trial, with one man receiving a nine-year sentence for arson involving a hotel housing asylum seekers. Other offenders were handed sentences ranging from two to over three years.
Why does this matter?
Despite the riots subsiding, live facial recognition remains in use for public safety. North Wales Police deployed the technology at a recent football match, scanning nearly 35,000 faces without making any arrests. Authorities clarified that the system only flags individuals on a wanted list and deletes others’ data immediately. The system has also been used at ferry ports and will soon be trialled in Hampshire, continuing to play a role in police efforts nationwide.
Amazon has announced plans to invest £8 billion in the UK to expand its data centre operations. The investment will be made by Amazon Web Services (AWS) over the next five years, aiming to meet growing demand for cloud computing, largely driven by AI advancements.
This new investment will add to AWS’s previous contributions of £3 billion since 2022, with facilities already in London and Manchester. The company expects the project to contribute £14 billion to the UK economy and support more than 14,000 jobs by the end of 2028.
AWS’s investment follows significant European cloud computing expansions, including substantial projects in Spain and Germany. After a pause last year, many corporate clients have resumed cloud spending, driven by a renewed interest in AI.
The announcement has been welcomed by the UK government, with Finance Minister Rachel Reeves highlighting its importance ahead of an upcoming investment summit. The exact locations of the new data centres will not be disclosed due to security reasons, but they will meet growing demand around London.
The National Crime Agency (NCA), once regarded as the UK’s frontline defense against serious and organized crime, including cybercrime, is now in a state of crisis, according to a new report from Spotlight on Corruption, a British nonprofit organisation which focuses on financial corruption.
The report highlights a severe ‘brain drain’ within the agency, with a significant number of experienced personnel leaving, leading to a concerning loss of nearly 20% of its cyber expertise annually. This exodus is primarily blamed on a dysfunctional pay system, which has not only resulted in a high number of vacancies but has also driven up costs. To fill the gaps, the NCA has increasingly relied on temporary workers and consultants, who account for over 10% of the agency’s budget.
The report calls for urgent reform and increased investment in the NCA, warning that the agency’s ability to protect the UK from serious threats, including fraud, corruption, and organized crime, is at a tipping point. Without major changes to pay and working conditions, the agency’s effectiveness is at risk of further deterioration.
The report also contrasts the NCA with the FBI, noting that while the NCA is sometimes referred to as Britain’s equivalent, there are significant differences between the two agencies. The FBI is considered a desirable career path due to its competitive pay, benefits, and opportunities for professional development, resulting in a low staff turnover rate of just 1.7% in 2023. In comparison, British police officers would have to accept a pay cut to join the NCA, which lacks similar financial incentives.
It’s worth noting that the report doesn’t go into the details of the recent successful operations conducted with the participation of the NCA.
EE has recently expanded its network capabilities with the rollout of its 5G Standalone (5GSA) technology across 15 major cities in the UK. The significant upgrade positions EE as the third UK carrier to deploy 5GSA, following Vodafone and VMO2. The new 5GSA network is designed to deliver faster speeds, reduced latency, and enhanced reliability, addressing the growing demand for high-performance connectivity. With features like ‘Network Boost,’ EE aims to improve performance in crowded areas by providing additional capacity to users on select plans.
EE has also introduced a range of new mobile plans to complement its 5GSA network. These plans include unlimited data options, generous roaming allowances for the EU, and select international destinations. Premium subscribers can benefit from added value through access to Google One AI Premium tools, Apple One, Netflix, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
EE is further advancing its broadband offerings with the Wi-Fi 7 Smart Hub Pro launch. Developed in collaboration with Qualcomm, this new hub provides superior home connectivity with faster speeds, reduced interference, and improved coverage. Full Fibre customers will enjoy gigabit speeds and a guaranteed 100Mbps connection in every room. To ensure customer satisfaction, EE offers a money-back guarantee for users who are not completely satisfied with the new hub’s performance.
The UK’s antitrust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has accused Google of abusing its dominant position in digital advertising, restricting competition in the sector. According to the CMA, Google’s practices, which allegedly favour its ad exchange platform, have hurt British publishers and advertisers, impacting their ability to generate revenue through digital ads. The regulator’s provisional findings suggest that Google has been using its influence in the advertising market’s buying and selling sides since 2015.
The CMA highlighted the potential harm these practices could cause businesses relying on online ads to fund their websites and apps, reaching millions across the UK. Juliette Enser, interim executive director of enforcement, stressed that this anti-competitive behaviour undermines free or lower-cost digital content. In response, Google disagreed with the CMA’s conclusions, arguing that its advertising tools support businesses of all sizes in a highly competitive industry.
The issue is part of a larger global scrutiny of Google’s advertising practices, with similar investigations underway by the US Department of Justice and the European Commission. In 2023, the EU regulators even suggested that Google might need to sell parts of its adtech business, though the company dismissed this idea as disproportionate. The CMA is now set to review Google’s response before deciding on possible fines or other legal actions to end the infringement.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust will continue using AI technology after a successful trial demonstrated its effectiveness in identifying bowel lesions. The trial involved 2,032 patients across 10 centres in the UK and used the GI Genius AI device during colonoscopies. After a while, this technology detected an additional 0.36 adenomas per procedure, helping to prevent potential cancer development.
Professor Colin Rees, a consultant gastroenterologist at the trust, highlighted the significance of the AI device in saving lives by increasing the detection of bowel abnormalities. The AI was particularly effective in identifying small or flat polyps often missed by the human eye, which can be crucial in early cancer prevention.
Bowel cancer remains a significant health concern in the UK, with 43,000 new cases and 16,000 deaths annually. The AI’s ability to detect adenomas in an extra eight out of 100 people without increasing complications is a promising advancement for medical professionals.
The trial, led by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, has encouraged the trust to integrate AI technology into routine practice. As the AI continues to learn from images, its performance is expected to improve further, offering hope for wider adoption in the future.
