Regulatory Watch Ireland’s data privacy regulator, the Data Protection Commission, has fined WhatsApp a record 225 million euros for violating EU data protection rules, following a three-year investigation. The Facebook-owned app was said to have shared data with other Facebook companies. WhatsApp said it would appeal. Read more here.
News
Round-up of the latest news – August 2021
Regulatory Watch In its latest action against big tech companies, the EU has given Google two months to improve its presentation of search results for flights and hotels, calling for ‘transparent and unbiased information’ for consumers. The company will need to explain its ranking, and could face future fines if EU consumer authorities are unsatisfied… [Read More]
Global media research project takes off
IIC Press Release Global media research project takes off A new research programme from Carleton University, Ottawa, supported by the IIC, has received funding approval. The USD 2 million Global Media and Internet Concentration Research Project (GMIC) will run for 7 years and is designed to answer the deceptively simple question: are the media –… [Read More]
Future Leaders’ Competition Deadline Extended
We are pleased to announce the deadline to enter this year’s Future Leaders’ competition has been extended. Entries can now be submitted up until 31st July 2021. The topic this year is: “What principles should guide policy-makers in designing local and international approaches for internet intermediaries in the evolving communications environment?” Further information is available on… [Read More]
Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure Reform, resilience and responsibility
A report from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has highlighted “malicious cyber activity against Australia’s national and economic interests is increasing in frequency, scale, and sophistication.” As governments worldwide grapple with significant cyber-attacks, the Australian Government is proposing change through the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020. Watch the recent IICA webinar about this… [Read More]
An inclusive internet needs more affordable data
The dragon of high spectrum costs needs to be slain once and for all On one thing everyone is agreed. The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the essential value of digital connectivity in the modern world, not just for commerce, but for civil society. At the same time, its importance has even more starkly exposed the… [Read More]