US antitrust action could force Facebook to divest Instagram and WhatsApp

Facebook is facing what may be its greatest legal battle yet, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nearly every US state separately filing antitrust lawsuits against the company.  The competition watchdog has accused Facebook of engaging in a “bury or buy” strategy to eliminate competition, including by purchasing growing rivals Instagram (acquired in 2012 … Read more

Royal Society calls for data-led net-zero transition

The Royal Society has published a report which identifies how the UK can play a leading role in tackling climate change through a data-led transition supported by the adoption of digital technologies.  While data-enabled technologies such as machine learning have boosted efficiency in some sectors, contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, they also have … Read more

Facebook’s Oversight Board tackles hate speech and nudity in first cases

Facebook’s independent Oversight Board has announced the first cases on which it will deliberate, following the opening of user appeals in October.  First announced in 2018, the Board will have the final word on what content is permitted on Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram. It was created in response to criticism from various groups, particularly … Read more

UK households revealed to be second worst in Europe for e-waste

Britons produce the second largest amount of e-waste per person in Europe, a study has found.  In 2019 alone, there were 53.6 million tonnes of electronic waste generated globally according to statistics from the United Nations. With Christmas purchases expected to exacerbate the e-waste problem as consumers throw their old devices out, data from the … Read more