Apple, Meta, Google and other big tech firms face EU overhaul | China to launch multi-billion chip state fund

Big Tech’s main firms face overhaul under EU tech rules

In this week’s news roundup, the EU Commission has designated 22 services from the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon as “gatekeepers” of online services as part of its latest crackdown on Big Tech.

Companies with over 45 million monthly active users and a market capitalisation of $82 billion are considered gatekeepers providing a core platform service. Those businesses – including Google-parent Alphabet, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp-parent Meta, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft – are all facing new rules.

The European Commission says they will be required to make their messaging apps interoperatable with rivals and let users decide which apps to pre-install on devices.

EU industry chief Thierry Breton said: “While gatekeepers have six months to demonstrate their compliance with their obligations, they must immediately appoint a compliance officer in place, directly reporting to the Board, and inform the Commission of any planned merger or acquisition.”

https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2023-09-06/big-techs-core-businesses-face-overhaul-under-eu-tech-rules

China to launch $40 billion state fund to boost chip industry

As the country speeds to catch up with the US and other rivals, China is set to launch a new state-backed investment fund that aims to raise around $40 billion. The fund – which was approved by Chinese authorities – is likely to be the biggest of three funds launched by the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, otherwise known as the Big Fund.

Equipment for chip making is one area the investment will prioritise. President Xi Jinping has long stressed the need for China to achieve self-sufficiency in semiconductors.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/china-launch-new-40-bln-state-fund-boost-chip-industry-sources-say-2023-09-05/

TikTok’s first European data centre finally operational

Also in this weeks’ news roundup, three years after the social video giant teased it was opening a data centre in Ireland, TikTok has said it is finally operational – partially, at least, with the process of migrating users’ data to the new facility now underway.

TikTok said the data migration process it will not be completed until 2024, by which point the company should have two additional data centres in operation – a second one in Ireland and another in Norway which will supposedly run wholly on renewable energy.

Until the new data centre is fully operational, TikTok is storing the personal data of its European users – including those in the EU, Switzerland, and the UK, in a dedicated secure enclave in the US.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/05/tiktok-europe-data-center/

BMW seals two deals to boost data and automation in new vehicles

BMW Group has signed a deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver IoT and AI capabilities to new vehicles launching in 2025. At the same time, it has partnered with Qualcomm Technologies to create automated driving systems.

BMW’s focus is on its Neue Klasse line which will draw on enhanced onboard driver assistance sensors and software to provide driver warnings, automated breaking and steering functions.

According to BMW, the twin deals are geared towards production.

https://www.rcrwireless.com/20230906/internet-of-things-4/bmw-and-aws-sign-cloud-deal-to-drive-iot-and-ai-smarts-in-new-gen-autos

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