United Kingdom
Meta extends pay-or-consent ad model to the UK
- Meta announced that it would be rolling out ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram to UK users for a monthly fee.
- Meta says this change follows guidance from the ICO and allows it to “offer subscription for no ads at a price that is one of the lowest in the market.”
- The ICO stated “People must be given meaningful transparency and choice about how their information is used. At the same time, the ICO recognises that online platforms, like every business, need to operate commercially.”
- The pay-or-consent model has been faced with EU scrutiny. In April, the US tech giant was fined €200 million by the European Commission under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for its “pay-or-consent model, which forced users to either accept tracking for personalised ads or pay for an ad-free service.
London nurseries hit by hackers, data on 8,000 children stolen
- Cybercriminals stole data on over 8,000 children attending nurseries in London operated by childcare provider Kido International.
- The gang called Radiant published the names, photos, home addresses, and family contact information of 10 children to prove its claim.
- The hack was the latest in the string of serious ransomware incidents in Britain and raises serious concerns about child safeguarding and data privacy.
- London’s Metropolitan Police have made no arrests and enquiries are ongoing.
United States
Most coal-fired power plants will delay retirement to feed AI boom, energy secretary says
- The US plans to delay retirement of many more coal power plants to ‘help deliver the vast amount of electricity needed to fuel artificial intelligence.’ This plan will also include boosting nuclear energy and allowing backup power plants to operate 24/7.
- The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has made expanding energy production a top priority while rejecting concerns about climate change.
- The total of U.S. electricity demand is estimated to hit record highs this year and next, alongside the country’s growth in power consumption which will also accelerate as huge AI data centre campuses power up.
- The Trump administration said that to dominate AI will depend largely on connecting new electricity supplies.
Google wins US court order against LATAM Airlines in YouTube video dispute
- A California federal court has preliminarily blocked LATAM Airlines from forcing Google to take down a video from its YouTube platform in the United States based on a Brazilian court order.
- A U.S. citizen posted two videos on YouTube in 2018 of his 6-year-old son describing allegations of sexual abuse that he said he experienced from a LATAM employee while travelling unaccompanied from Brazil to Florida. LATAM’s Brazilian subsidiary sued Google in Brazil over the videos in 2018, calling them defamatory.
- The videos were blocked in Brazil based on a court order, and a Brazilian appeals court determined in June that the order should apply worldwide.
- The U.S. District Judge said that Google would likely prove that enforcing the order in the United States would violate U.S. law.
- Spokesperson of LATAM declined to comment on the decision, Google spokesperson also declined to comment.
Europe
Swiss vote on electronic identity cards for second time
- A second nationwide ballot in Switzerland on whether to introduce electronic identity cards has taken place after the idea was rejected in 2021 over data protection concerns. Further concerns included the proposed system being largely run by private firms.
- The revised proposal states that the new system would remain entirely optional and in public hands, which data stored on users’ smartphones.
- Switzerland’s plan has been approved by its houses of parliament, and the Swiss government recommends a “yes” vote.
- Supporters take the view that the system will make life easier for everyone, however, Switzerland has upheld protecting its citizen’s privacy. Despite the new restrictions on how data is collected and stored, it could still be used to track people and be used for marketing purposes.
Italy becomes first EU member state to pass AI law
- Italy has become the first EU country to approve a national law complementing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. The law consists of 28 articles that address critical issues due to the rise of AI technologies.
- The law devotes specific focus to crucial sectors such as work, health, and justice. It also regulates the use of AI by minors.
- This new law will help open constructive dialogue between businesses and authorities.
- It is viewed that Italy is now in a privileged position as the first country to adopt a national regulatory framework governing the development, adoption, and governance of AI systems.
International
Notes from the Asia-Pacific region – OPC’s biometric processing code is a major step
- The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of New Zealand issued the Biometric Processing Privacy Code, which regulated how organisations in New Zealand use biometric technologies to collect and process biometric information.
- The code applies to all organisations, both the public and private sector, which collect biometric information for biometric processing.
- Biometric processing involves using biometric information, such as facial features and fingerprints, to verify identity or categorise individuals. It only applies in relation to biometric processing using technology.
- The code covers biometric information from collection, storage and use to destruction. It also alters the information privacy principles to address the specific risks of biometric processing, including introducing necessity and proportionality assessments.
