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Topic: EU

ASSOCIATED PRESS AI 

Meta to refrain from sharing multimodal AI models with EU due to regulatory uncertainty

Jim Hendler, , , ,

Meta has announced that it will not be making its upcoming multimodal AI model and future versions available to customers in the European Union due to a lack of clear guidance from European regulators. The models are intended to handle text, images, and audio, and are meant to enhance AI features on Meta platforms and Ray-Ban smart glasses. “We will launch the multimodal Llama model in the coming months, but not in the EU due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment,” Meta said in a statement to…

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Complying with the EU's DMA, Apple has announced that starting in March, iPhone users can expect to see third-party app stores, giving them the choice to download apps from multiple sources. News 

Details Here: Apple to Introduce Android-Style App Stores for iPhone Users in the EU in March

Adriana Marais, , ,

After months of speculation about Apple’s possible compliance with European Union regulations requiring third-party app stores to allow it on the mobile platform, the Cupertino-based giant has announced its strategy. This marks a major change in the app distribution model, and is probably the most significant change since the launch of the App Store. For those familiar with the matter, Apple must comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This obliges all companies with 45 million active users and a market value of $82 billion to ensure that…

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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen looks on during an international humanitarian conference for civilians in Gaza, at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, on November 9, 2023. (REUTERS) News 

Investigating Online Child Protection: EU Takes Action with Meta and Snap!

Jim Hendler

The European Union has expanded its investigation into tech companies to ensure their compliance with a new law aimed at preventing illegal content on the internet. The European Commission has officially requested information from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Snap, the operator of the Snapchat app, regarding the steps they have taken to safeguard minors online. Both companies are required to respond by December 1. The investigations are only the beginning stage in accordance with the EU Digital Services Act, which entered into force in August,…

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EU antitrust regulators have not opened a formal investigation into chips used for artificial intelligence, the European Commission said on Monday, days after the French competition authority raided Nvidia for alleged anticompetitive practices. AI 

EU Antitrust Regulators Decline to Launch Formal Probe Into Nvidia AI Chips

Febin Mathew

EU competition authorities have not opened a formal investigation into chips used for artificial intelligence, the European Commission said on Monday, days after the French competition authority raided Nvidia for alleged anti-competitive practices. “The Commission has not conducted a formal investigation into the matter you mentioned,” a representative of the EU executive said in an email to Reuters when asked about the matter. Nvidia declined to comment after the French attack. Bloomberg News reported last week that the EU’s antitrust watchdog is informally gathering insights into possible abuses in the…

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TikTok has been fined 345 million euros ($370 million) for breaching privacy laws regarding the processing of children's personal data in the European Union. News 

European Commission Penalizes TikTok with 345 Million Euro Fine for Mismanagement of Children’s Data

Adarsh V.K,

DUBLIN: TikTok has been fined 345 million euros ($370 million) for breaching data protection laws in the European Union on the handling of children’s personal data, its top regulator in the bloc said on Friday. The Chinese-owned short video platform, which has seen rapid growth among teenagers around the world in recent years, breached several EU data protection laws between July 31, 2020 and December 31, 2020, Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) said. in the statement. This is the first time that ByteDance-owned TikTok has been reprimanded by the DPC,…

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The bloc will compel Apple to let iPhone owners access alternative app stores, for instance. News 

EU Announces Six Tech Companies to be Regulated Under New Competition Rules

Febin Mathew, , ,

The European Union has officially identified the initial six tech “gatekeepers” that will be required to comply with stringent regulations outlined in the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These companies are well-known and include Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft. The European Commission (EC), the executive body of the EU, has clarified that Samsung has not yet been classified as a gatekeeper after evaluating criteria such as revenue, valuation, and user base. The EC stipulates that digital platforms can be designated as gatekeepers “if they provide an important gateway between…

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Apple on Wednesday said it remained concerned about privacy and security risks it sees in the new EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), after the European Commission had designated it and five other major tech companies as "gatekeepers" of online services. News 

Apple Expresses Concern Over Potential Impact of EU Digital Markets Act

Adriana Marais,

Apple on Wednesday said it was concerned about the privacy and security risks it sees in the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), after the European Commission named it and five other big tech companies as “gatekeepers” for online services. “We are focused on how to mitigate these impacts and continue to deliver the best products and services to our European customers,” Apple said in a statement. Companies labeled as gatekeepers by the DMA must make their messaging apps interoperable with their competitors and let users decide which apps to…

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Among other recent penalties, the EU fined Meta €1.2 billion in May for moving EU citizens’ data to US-based servers. News 

Facebook and Instagram May Introduce Subscription-Based Services in Europe to Comply with EU Privacy Regulations

Jim Hendler, , ,

According to The New York Times, Meta is considering introducing a paid subscription option for Instagram and Facebook in Europe. This move aims to comply with European Union (EU) regulations that have impacted Meta’s profitable data-collection practices. In April, Meta revealed that advertising in the EU accounted for 10 percent of its overall revenue. The move would be the first time Meta has deviated from its standard model of a single, free platform supported by advertising (and the associated data collection). NYT says the company will continue to offer free…

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The commission will make a decision by December 14th on the planned $20 billion acquisition. News 

EU Investigating Adobe’s Acquisition of Figma for $20 Billion

Febin Mathew, ,

Adobe’s proposed acquisition of design competitor Figma, valued at $20 billion, is now under thorough investigation by the European Commission. The EU has expressed apprehension over the potential reduction in competition for interactive design software and tools used for digital asset creation. The EU Commission has until December 14 to make a decision. “Through our thorough investigation, we aim to ensure that users continue to have access to a wide range of digital creative tools to choose from,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement to Reuters. The…

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If you haven't signed up for Threads, you'll have to be patient. News 

EU Residents Blocked from Accessing Threads via VPNs

Adarsh V.K, , , ,

European Union users attempting to register for Threads using a virtual private network (VPN) will be unsuccessful, as Meta has implemented a block on access for these users. Consultant Matt Navarra clarifies that content, notifications, and profiles will not load correctly. While a few users claim they can access Threads without a VPN if they had previously signed up using one, relying on this workaround may not be advisable. In a statement, Meta says it’s taking “additional steps” to prevent people from accessing Threads in European countries where the app…

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Amazon challenges EU court over new rules for large online platforms, including the Digital Services Act. News 

Amazon Disputes European Union Regulations for Big Digital Platforms

Jim Hendler, ,

Amazon has announced that it has initiated a legal dispute in a European Union court against the classification of being a very large online platform under strict new regulations by Brussels. In April, the European Commission identified 19 online companies, including Amazon, Twitter, TikTok, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, as meeting the requirements for this designation. From August 25, they must comply with the rules of the European Union’s new Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to curb illegal online content and disinformation. One requirement is that they undergo an…

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Meta, the owner of Facebook, will contest EU antitrust charges tied to its classified ads service at a closed hearing, aiming to avoid hefty fines News 

Mark Zuckerberg to Challenge EU Antitrust Charges at July 13 Hearing

Adarsh V.K, ,

According to sources, Meta, the owner of Facebook, will challenge the EU antitrust charges in a private hearing on Friday. The company aims to avoid a substantial penalty after being accused of linking its classified ads service to its social network. Last December, the European Commission sent a charge sheet to the world’s most popular social network, highlighting two practices that showed Meta was abusing its market power. It said that tying Meta to the online classifieds service Facebook Marketplace on its social network Facebook gave the former an unfair…

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The tech giant will have to meet some conditions to move forward. News 

European Union Approves Broadcom’s Acquisition of VMware for $61 Billion

Adriana Marais, ,

Broadcom has made significant progress in securing its $61 billion acquisition of VMware, although certain conditions must be met. The European Commission of the EU has granted approval for the merger after conducting an extensive investigation into potential negative effects on competition. Authorities concluded that Broadcom’s ability to misuse its dominance was limited, and implementing certain measures would guarantee fair competition in the future. The commission ruled that Broadcom does not have a “strong position” that could impede competition in network and storage adapters, and that it would have no…

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The EU is limiting how Meta can use your data. News 

EU Requirement for Facebook to Obtain Permission to Display Personalized Ads

Jim Hendler, , , ,

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will be required to restrict the extent of its personalized advertisements in the European Union. The Court of Justice in the EU has determined that Meta’s Facebook brand must acquire consent prior to delivering certain personalized ads within the region. The ruling states that the vast amount of data processing involved in these tailored ads cannot be justified without the explicit permission of users. We asked Meta for a comment. In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson said the social media…

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European antitrust regulators are preparing to launch a formal investigation into software giant Adobe's $20 billion buyout deal for cloudbased designer platform Figma later this year, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. News 

EU Regulators Investigating Adobe’s Proposed $20 Billion Acquisition of Figma

Adarsh V.K, , ,

According to the Financial Times, antitrust regulators in Europe are getting ready to initiate a formal inquiry into Adobe’s acquisition of cloud-based designer platform Figma for $20 billion later this year. EU officials plan to press ahead with a detailed investigation into anti-competitive concerns, which could take several months and could eventually derail the deal altogether, the FT said, citing people with knowledge of the move. The report comes after Britain’s competition watchdog said last month it was investigating the deal between Adobe and Figma, while Bloomberg reported in February…

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Regulators want to know how the generative AI protects privacy. AI 

Google Delays Launch of Bard AI in EU Due to Privacy Issues

Adriana Marais, , , ,

The launch of Google Bard in Europe has been postponed due to the intervention of the Irish Data Protection Commission (IDPC), which oversees data in the European Union. The generative AI chatbot was scheduled to be released this week, but the IDPC has demanded a comprehensive privacy briefing, data impact assessment, and supporting information before granting approval. Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle has stated that the agency has not yet received the necessary details. According to Doyle, the commission is still in the midst of an “ongoing investigation” of Bard. It…

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The European Parliament vote is one of the last steps before the rules become law, which could act as a model for other places working on similar regulations AI 

Europe Taking the Lead in AI Regulation

Febin Mathew, ,

On Wednesday, European lawmakers approved the world’s initial comprehensive regulations for artificial intelligence, marking a significant milestone as governments worldwide strive to control AI. Brussels’ years-long push to create artificial intelligence guardrails has become more urgent as the rapid development of chatbots like ChatGPT shows the benefits the new technology can bring – and the new dangers it brings. Here’s an overview of EU AI law: HOW DO THE RULES WORK? The measure, first proposed in 2021, covers any product or service that uses an artificial intelligence system. The law…

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The stakes are higher for Google in this latest clash with regulators as it concerns the company's biggest money maker News 

EU Regulators Take Action, Google May Have to Sell Adtech Business

Adriana Marais, , ,

EU regulators have warned Alphabet’s Google that it may need to divest a portion of its profitable adtech business to tackle concerns regarding anti-competitive behavior, potentially resulting in the company facing its most severe regulatory punishment yet. The European Commission made its accusations in a statement of objections to Google two years after it opened an investigation into things like favoring its own advertising services, which could also lead to a fine of up to 10 percent of Google’s annual global turnover. The stakes are higher for Google in this…

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The European Union (EU) has warned Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to take immediate action on protecting kids on Instagram or face "heavy sanctions". News 

European Union Threatens Mark Zuckerberg With Severe Punishment If Instagram Does Not Safeguard Children’s Privacy

Jim Hendler, , ,

Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder and CEO of Meta, has been cautioned by the European Union (EU) to promptly address the issue of safeguarding children on Instagram, or else face severe penalties. The warning comes after reports that Instagram’s recommendation algorithms are promoting networks of pedophiles who order and sell child sexual abuse content on the popular photo-sharing platform. The Wall Street Journal worked with researchers from Stanford University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst to encrypt and expose such a network of Instagram accounts. EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton…

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Sam Altman, whose company created the ChatGPT bot, last month told US lawmakers that governmental regulatory intervention was needed to face the risks of AI AI 

OpenAI CEO Advocates for Less AI Regulation to Unblock Progress

Febin Mathew, , , ,

On Monday, Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, expressed his opposition to immediate and strict regulations that could impede the swift advancement of artificial intelligence technology. However, he emphasized the importance of long-term institutional supervision. Altman, whose company created the ChatGPT bot, told US lawmakers last month that government regulatory action is needed to combat AI risks. In a statement at Israel’s Tel Aviv University on Monday, Altman stressed that his call for censorship is not aimed at “today’s systems.” “I think it would be a mistake to go hard…

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