With WSocial, Europe’s Elites Build Their Own X
WSocial is backed by a commercial startup and promoted by a network of NGOs, political insiders and EU figures. The new rival to X…
WhatsApp Tackles Its Phone Number Problem with Usernames
Better control over user privacy is the goal behind WhatsApp's move to usernames, which are meant to be the solution. At the same …
The US Robber Betrayed by His Phone – and What It Means for Your Privacy
In Virginia, an unlucky crook got caught because he had his location data turned on. Now the US Supreme Court has ruled that futur…
Identity Checks at the Gates of the Internet
In the US, pressure is growing on platforms to sort users by age and identity in the name of child protection. Age checks, liabili…
Tell Me Whom You Follow
US court orders demanded identifying data from Google on users who had watched certain YouTube videos, according to Forbes. If eve…
Britain Casts Online Life as the New Smoking
Medical arguments are giving new momentum to Britain’s debate over age and identity checks online. The Starmer government wants to…
Germany’s New Battle for Control of the Feed
German media regulators want approved Public Value journalism to receive greater prominence on social platforms. Presented as a wa…
X Bows to Pressure From Britain’s Censors
Britain’s communications regulator can now count on X to review and remove content more quickly. Hate and disinformation are the s…
Ofcom’s Reach for the Global Internet
A British regulator wants to punish an American website for allegedly violating British law. Does the arm of the UK’s media watchd…
Fears Grow EU Set to Clamp Down on VPNs
The EU is considering regulation on VPNs as part of its age-verification push, but tech experts warn it is a “slippery slope” towa…
Europe Wants Age Checks but Has Not Checked the Basics
The European Commission wants to standardize age verification online, but has so far offered only a flawed app, security gaps and …
Google’s New Human Test Exploits a De Facto Monopoly
Google’s new reCAPTCHA can no longer be used without Google Play Services. The company is expanding its power and shutting out And…
France’s Fight Over Encrypted Chats Flares Up Again
France wants access to encrypted chats, putting the security and privacy of citizens and companies at risk. The threat extends bey…
Amadeus Promises a Brave New Biometric Travel World
A scanned face could soon be enough to board a flight, enter a taxi or check into a hotel. That is how the technology group Amadeu…
Australia’s Social Media Law Collides With Reality
Four months after Australia introduced the world’s first social media ban for under-16s, most teenagers are still finding easy way…