Image: borodai/Envato Elements The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority has found that Apple is restricting competition in the country by limiting the use of rival browsers on its iOS devices and effectively requiring developers to use its WebKit browser engine. This, and a number of other concerns, is “holding back innovation and could be limiting … Read more
European politicians and advocacy groups are adamant that the region’s legislation is not hardline enough to dismantle the monopolies of Big Tech companies. In the last week, two open letters have been penned to regulators criticising how Apple and Google remain unchecked. On Jan. 16, four digital rights groups responded to the measures proposed by … Read more
The U.K. government is considering banning ransomware payments to make critical industries “unattractive targets for criminals.” It would apply to all public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure, which includes NHS trusts, schools, local councils, and data centres. Currently, all government departments nationwide are banned from paying cyber criminals to decrypt their data or prevent … Read more
Google is the first company investigated for potential strategic market status under the new U.K. Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. If it receives the designation, bespoke conduct requirements will be drafted for the company to follow, preventing anti-competitive practices. “The investigation will assess Google’s position in search and search advertising services and how this … Read more
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act is designed to regulate the behaviour of major digital firms with significant market power in the U.K. The legislation grants the Competition and Markets Authority new powers to impose requirements on tech companies with “Strategic Market Status,” reminiscent of the “gatekeeper” organisations that must abide by the E.U.’s … Read more
The U.K.’s competition regulator has raised concerns about Apple’s dominance in the mobile browser market. The Competition and Markets Authority said on Nov. 22 that Apple restricts competition by limiting the use of rival browsers on its iOS devices and effectively requiring developers to use its WebKit browser engine. This could stifle innovation among competitors, … Read more
The Archbishop of Canterbury has called the idea of assisted dying “dangerous” and suggested it would lead to a “slippery slope” where more people would feel compelled to have their life ended medically. The head of the Church of England was speaking with the BBC ahead of the first reading in parliament of a bill … Read more
Gisèle Pelicot waived anonymity to make public the trial of her former husband and the 50 men accused of joining him in raping her. The trial has revived the question of consent within French law and turned Ms. Pelicot into a feminist icon. Catherine Porter, an international correspondent for The New York Times based in … Read more
Jerusalem CNN — For months hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets across the country to regularly protest far-reaching changes to the Israel’s legal system some say threaten the country’s democratic foundations. At its core, the judicial overhaul would give the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, and therefore the parties in power, … Read more
CNN — Benjamin Netanyahu resisted calls to drop his controversial overhaul of Israel’s judiciary in a fiery televised address Thursday, hours after his government passed a law that was condemned by critics as an effort to protect his position. Israeli opposition politicians earlier condemned the new law, which would limit the ways a sitting prime … Read more