Alderik Oosthoek
@alderik.bsky.social
A running junkie in the morning, an online platforms nerd during daytime, a karaoke fanatic by night.
Disclaimer: only personal views & reposts are not endorsements
🇪🇺🇳🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪
Disclaimer: only personal views & reposts are not endorsements
🇪🇺🇳🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪
“The case — Federal Trade Commission v. Meta Platforms — stemmed from a novel legal argument that Meta, which was known as Facebook at the time, bought Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion to kill off its competitors.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/t...
Meta Did Not Violate Antitrust Law, Judge Rules - The New York Times
Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp did not illegally stifle competition in social networking, a judge found, a major win for the tech giant.
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
“The case — Federal Trade Commission v. Meta Platforms — stemmed from a novel legal argument that Meta, which was known as Facebook at the time, bought Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion to kill off its competitors.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/t...
“Two market investigations will assess whether Amazon and Microsoft should be designated as gatekeepers for their cloud computing services, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, under the DMA“ ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Press corner | European Commission
The European Commission opened three market investigations on cloud computing services under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
ec.europa.eu
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
“Two market investigations will assess whether Amazon and Microsoft should be designated as gatekeepers for their cloud computing services, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, under the DMA“ ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
New: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure, and Alphabet's Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study the platforms’ market power: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Tech Giants’ Cloud Power Probed as EU Weighs Inclusion in DMA
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp.’s Azure, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study…
www.bloomberg.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
New: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure, and Alphabet's Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study the platforms’ market power: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
"Under the investigation’s remit, regulators will asses whether the top cloud operators — regardless of the challenge of counting user numbers — should be forced to contend with a raft of fresh obligations" #qualitative_DMA_designations www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU Considers Cracking Down on Big Tech's Cloud Power
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp.’s Azure, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study t...
www.bloomberg.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"Under the investigation’s remit, regulators will asses whether the top cloud operators — regardless of the challenge of counting user numbers — should be forced to contend with a raft of fresh obligations" #qualitative_DMA_designations www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
"The Commission published an evaluation report of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Monday [..] the Commission has previously said the review will provide “useful input” for its upcoming digital fitness check." www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Commission eyes further simplification of tech rules after DSA review | Euractiv
The Commission's report on the Digital Services Act points to further simplification of EU tech rules in the upcoming 'digital fitness check'
www.euractiv.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"The Commission published an evaluation report of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Monday [..] the Commission has previously said the review will provide “useful input” for its upcoming digital fitness check." www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
"A Romanian publisher can use email addresses obtained when users sign up for access to a free online service to receive articles and a newsletter without first obtaining users' their prior consent, EU judges ruled" www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
Direct marketing e-privacy consent rules clarified in EU court's newsletters ruling | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
A Romanian publisher can use email addresses obtained when users sign up for access to a free online service to receive articles and a newsletter without first obtaining users' their prior consent, EU...
www.mlex.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
"A Romanian publisher can use email addresses obtained when users sign up for access to a free online service to receive articles and a newsletter without first obtaining users' their prior consent, EU judges ruled" www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
“Google on Friday announced changes to its advertising services to avert the risk of a breakup, two months after Brussels hit the US giant with a €2.95-billion antitrust fine for favouring its own services.” www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
Google proposes to change ad services to avoid breakup after EU antitrust fine
Google on Friday announced changes to its advertising services to avert the risk of a breakup, two months after Brussels hit the US giant with a €2.95-billion antitrust fine for favouring its own services.…
www.france24.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
“Google on Friday announced changes to its advertising services to avert the risk of a breakup, two months after Brussels hit the US giant with a €2.95-billion antitrust fine for favouring its own services.” www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
The International Criminal Court is ditching Microsoft Office, saying it’s too dependent on US tech, in favor of Open Desk, a German open source alternative.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
International Criminal Court to ditch Microsoft Office for European open source alternative | Euractiv
The court will move its internal work environment to Open Desk, a German-developed open source software
www.euractiv.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
The International Criminal Court is ditching Microsoft Office, saying it’s too dependent on US tech, in favor of Open Desk, a German open source alternative.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
"The [DMA] investigation on Google will assess whether it’s “demoting” news outlets and other publisher websites when they include sponsored or commercial material – a practice the tech giant has said is covered by its “site reputation abuse policy”." www.euractiv.com/news/eu-open...
EU opens probe of Google over news site rankings | Euractiv
The Commission's new Digital Markets Act investigation will assess whether the tech giant is demoting news media content in search results
www.euractiv.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"The [DMA] investigation on Google will assess whether it’s “demoting” news outlets and other publisher websites when they include sponsored or commercial material – a practice the tech giant has said is covered by its “site reputation abuse policy”." www.euractiv.com/news/eu-open...
“[T]he European Commission, plans to designate WhatsApp’s open channels as a “Very Large Online Platform” under the Digital Services Act, meaning it must meet high standards for content moderation and transparency, according to people familiar with the matter.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 13, 2025 at 7:15 AM
“[T]he European Commission, plans to designate WhatsApp’s open channels as a “Very Large Online Platform” under the Digital Services Act, meaning it must meet high standards for content moderation and transparency, according to people familiar with the matter.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
“Video-game commercial models, visual dark patterns, addictive app design and social-media influencers must all be tackled in the EU's upcoming digital consumer-protection law, the Dutch government has urged in a policy document.”
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
EU Digital Fairness Act must tackle range of online trickery, Dutch paper urges | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
Video-game commercial models, visual dark patterns, addictive app design and social-media influencers must all be tackled in the EU's upcoming digital consumer-protection law, the Dutch government has...
www.mlex.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:52 AM
“Video-game commercial models, visual dark patterns, addictive app design and social-media influencers must all be tackled in the EU's upcoming digital consumer-protection law, the Dutch government has urged in a policy document.”
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
“Coimisiún na Meán’s Investigations Team has [..] commenced a formal investigation into the provider of the X online platform (X), under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). The investigation will assess whether X has contravened Article 20 of the DSA.” us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=7d5c34430...
November 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
“Coimisiún na Meán’s Investigations Team has [..] commenced a formal investigation into the provider of the X online platform (X), under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). The investigation will assess whether X has contravened Article 20 of the DSA.” us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=7d5c34430...
"New Zealand will have social-media bans for children under 16 in place before the 2026 national election [..] Luxon said the government was interested in the Australian model [..] The Australian social-media ban will come into effect on Dec. 10" www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
New Zealand prime minister promises social-media ban legislation before election | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
New Zealand will have social-media bans for children under 16 in place before the 2026 national election, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon vowing to move ahead with the country’s “first piece of ...
www.mlex.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"New Zealand will have social-media bans for children under 16 in place before the 2026 national election [..] Luxon said the government was interested in the Australian model [..] The Australian social-media ban will come into effect on Dec. 10" www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
The European Commission will unveil a “digital omnibus” package later this month to simplify many of its tech laws.
The draft document we’ve obtained shows EU officials are planning far-reaching changes to the GDPR to benefit AI developers.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
The draft document we’ve obtained shows EU officials are planning far-reaching changes to the GDPR to benefit AI developers.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The European Commission will unveil a “digital omnibus” package later this month to simplify many of its tech laws.
The draft document we’ve obtained shows EU officials are planning far-reaching changes to the GDPR to benefit AI developers.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
The draft document we’ve obtained shows EU officials are planning far-reaching changes to the GDPR to benefit AI developers.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/brus...
“It is also planning to assemble a network of influencers to “raise awareness about relevant EU rules” — suggesting that using influencers could help people better understand EU rules such as on political advertising, online content and artificial intelligence.” www.politico.eu/article/docu...
Save democracy (if you want to), Brussels says – POLITICO
The EU’s Democracy Shield initiative aims to tackle election interference online — but countries won’t be required to sign up.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM
“It is also planning to assemble a network of influencers to “raise awareness about relevant EU rules” — suggesting that using influencers could help people better understand EU rules such as on political advertising, online content and artificial intelligence.” www.politico.eu/article/docu...
"They will also establish an age assurance group to discuss solutions for age verification that ensure security, safety and privacy." www.telecompaper.com/nieuws/eu-uk...
Telecompaper
Telecompaper - Telecom news and research
www.telecompaper.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"They will also establish an age assurance group to discuss solutions for age verification that ensure security, safety and privacy." www.telecompaper.com/nieuws/eu-uk...
"A new crisis protocol for online services and guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in electoral processes is being prepared [..] according to a draft of the upcoming European Democracy Shield. The initiative is due to be presented on Nov. 12." www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
Online services to get crisis protocol, AI poll guidance under EU Democracy Shield | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
A new crisis protocol for online services and guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in electoral processes is being prepared as part of a broader EU effort to counter information manipulation...
www.mlex.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM
"A new crisis protocol for online services and guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in electoral processes is being prepared [..] according to a draft of the upcoming European Democracy Shield. The initiative is due to be presented on Nov. 12." www.mlex.com/mlex/article...
"The Danish government has reached an agreement to implement a minimum age requirement of 15 years old on certain social media platforms, it announced on Friday. [..] The ministry did not specify which social media platforms are affected or how the ban will be enforced." amp.dw.com/en/denmark-t...
Denmark to ban social media for children under 15 – DW – 11/07/2025
Most parties in the Danish parliament said they support implementing a 15-year-old minimum age requirement for social media. It is not yet known which social media platforms will be affected.
amp.dw.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
"The Danish government has reached an agreement to implement a minimum age requirement of 15 years old on certain social media platforms, it announced on Friday. [..] The ministry did not specify which social media platforms are affected or how the ban will be enforced." amp.dw.com/en/denmark-t...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
YouTube quietly erased more than 700 videos documenting Israeli human rights violations: "A capitulation to Trump sanctions"
Read more in this @theintercept.com story by @jonahmv.bsky.social and Nikita Mazurov:
Read more in this @theintercept.com story by @jonahmv.bsky.social and Nikita Mazurov:
YouTube Quietly Erased More Than 700 Videos Documenting Israeli Human Rights Violations
The tech giant deleted the accounts of three prominent Palestinian human rights groups — a capitulation to Trump sanctions.
theintercept.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:46 PM
YouTube quietly erased more than 700 videos documenting Israeli human rights violations: "A capitulation to Trump sanctions"
Read more in this @theintercept.com story by @jonahmv.bsky.social and Nikita Mazurov:
Read more in this @theintercept.com story by @jonahmv.bsky.social and Nikita Mazurov:
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem. www.wired.com/story/scam-a...
Scam Ads Are Flooding Social Media. These Former Meta Staffers Have a Plan
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem. www.wired.com/story/scam-a...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
"Every six months, Meta earns $3.5 billion from just the portion of scam ads that 'present higher legal risk,' the [Meta] document says, such as those falsely claiming to represent a consumer brand...That figure almost certainly exceeds 'the cost of any regulatory settlement involving scam ads.'”
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:43 PM
"Every six months, Meta earns $3.5 billion from just the portion of scam ads that 'present higher legal risk,' the [Meta] document says, such as those falsely claiming to represent a consumer brand...That figure almost certainly exceeds 'the cost of any regulatory settlement involving scam ads.'”
“The French equalities regulator has ruled that Facebook’s algorithm for placing job adverts is sexist, after an investigation found that adverts for mechanic roles skewed towards men while those for preschool teachers were targeted at women.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Facebook’s job ads algorithm is sexist, French equality watchdog rules | France | The Guardian
Regulator found ads for mechanics skewed towards men while those for preschool teachers targeted women
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
“The French equalities regulator has ruled that Facebook’s algorithm for placing job adverts is sexist, after an investigation found that adverts for mechanic roles skewed towards men while those for preschool teachers were targeted at women.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
“[B]ecause of more problems with the training data, they estimated that the model would, in certain contexts, misidentify 27 percent of black minors as adult, but only 11 percent of white minors;” euobserver.com/Digital/ar2f...
French researchers find major flaws in AI age-verification software for porn
An investigation into AgeVerif, an age-verification company in France, found problems with the system's effectiveness, security, and bias.
euobserver.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:18 AM
“[B]ecause of more problems with the training data, they estimated that the model would, in certain contexts, misidentify 27 percent of black minors as adult, but only 11 percent of white minors;” euobserver.com/Digital/ar2f...
“Ticketmaster's personalized AI slop ads are a glimpse at the future of social media advertising, [..] This future is one where AI is used both for ad targeting and for ad generation; eventually ads are going to be hyperpersonalized to individual users” www.404media.co/the-future-o...
The Future of Advertising Is AI Generated Ads That Are Directly Personalized to You
"Advertisers are increasingly just going to be able to give us a business objective and give us a credit card or bank account, and have the AI system basically figure out everything else."
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM
“Ticketmaster's personalized AI slop ads are a glimpse at the future of social media advertising, [..] This future is one where AI is used both for ad targeting and for ad generation; eventually ads are going to be hyperpersonalized to individual users” www.404media.co/the-future-o...