Policy
Tech policy news: regulation, privacy rules, court rulings and government programmes that shape startups.
Latest Policy stories
Amsterdam protest shuts down Microsoft’s $1B data centre site
Activists stormed Microsoft’s $1B data centre site in Amsterdam, sparking pan-European protests over AI’s environmental and resource costs.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 8, 2026
Megaspeed exec was recruited to spy on Nvidia CEO, according to US intelligence memo
A memo circulated earlier this year reportedly claimed that China’s Ministry of State Security recruited a female technology executive to spy on Nvidia's CEO.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
AI teddy for three-year-olds gave unprompted self-harm reply, BBC finds
The BBC could not find who makes the £75 plush toy, which is sold online in the UK.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
European coalition demands pause on new AI data centers
Over 100 organizations across 15 European countries demand a pause on new AI data centers, citing environmental and social impacts.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
Cities cut Flock Safety contracts after stalking scandals and federal data grabs
Ten local governments and police departments ended Flock Safety contracts since summer 2026 after officers misused the tech and federal agencies tapped…
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
Congress probes Apple, Meta, and Musk over Trump ties, NDAs, and iOS restrictions
U.S. lawmakers plan investigations into Apple, Meta, and Elon Musk’s companies over Trump ties, NDAs, and ICE tracking.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
EU accuses TikTok of violating safety rules with For You feed, risks fines
The EU’s top regulator says TikTok’s algorithm traps users in harmful content loops.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
Russia’s private data centers must now reserve 10% capacity for state
A November 2026 decree forces Russian data centers to set aside 10% of computing power for state use on 24 hours’ notice. Operators have 10 days to comply.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
U.S. DOJ forms Super Intelligence Task Force to protect AI from foreign threats
The U.S. Department of Justice has formed the Super Intelligence Task Force to prevent AI technology misuse by foreign actors and fraudsters.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 7, 2026
Insurers After $6.3 Billion Crypto Heist: D’oh!
Crypto insurers will likely tighten wording and security reviews and may add exclusions after the Binance hack, Reuters reported.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 6, 2026
Pentagon offers battery startup 6K $250M loan to build U.S. factory
The Pentagon has conditionally approved a $250 million loan to help 6K scale up its microwave-plasma battery material manufacturing process.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 6, 2026
Meta pauses new business terms that would let it crawl publishers’ websites
The changes were due on November 20, after a backlash from publishers, a Norwegian court ruling and regulators’ scrutiny.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 6, 2026
Google, Meta and TikTok sue to block California’s under-16 social-media ban
California’s AB 1709, effective 2027, bars infinite scroll, autoplay and addictive feeds for users under 16.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 6, 2026
Meta, Google, and TikTok sue California AG over teen social media law
If it goes into effect next year, this California law would restrict social media access for children under 16.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 6, 2026
A YouTuber Figured Out How to Find Almost Anyone Using Airplane Sounds
A YouTuber shows how the faint sounds of passing planes can reveal where a video was recorded, raising new concerns about location privacy.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
Anyone Can Rent a White House IP Address for a Few Dollars
Researchers found anyone can pay a few dollars to route internet traffic through White House IP addresses using residential proxy services.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
Esya Centre study warns SIM-binding mandate may disrupt MSMEs without improving security
Esya Centre’s study finds India’s SIM-binding mandate may disrupt MSMEs and consumers without improving cybersecurity, suggesting a risk-based approach instead.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
US midterms shift energy policy focus to states, data center restrictions
Democrats gained control of Congress and key states in the 2026 US midterms, limiting federal climate action but accelerating state-level energy reforms…
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
DuckDuckGo pitches schools as privacy-focused alternative to Google amid AI policy backlash
DuckDuckGo positions itself as a privacy-focused alternative for schools after Google links AI feature disablement to loss of Search access.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
Leading the Future super PAC spends $26M in 2026 midterms, sees limited impact
A $100M pro-AI super PAC network backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI spent millions in the 2026 midterms but failed to influence competitive races…
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
US voters pass 33 measures to restrict data centers in midterms
Local elections across 10 US states saw 33 ballot measures pass to limit data centers, with Ohio voters overwhelmingly supporting restrictions.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
Trump administration rebrands AI as "Super Intelligence" in loyalty test
The U.S. government has rebranded artificial intelligence as "Super Intelligence" under an executive order, turning terminology into a political loyalty test…
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
US data center expansion could erase 15 years of emissions progress, Sierra Club warns
A Sierra Club assessment warns that US data center growth could drive power-sector emissions 42% above 2025 levels by 2030, reversing climate gains.
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026
Valve tightens Steam release rules as AI game surge delays approvals
Valve revamps Steam’s release process to address approval backlogs caused by AI-generated games, extending review times to 12 business days and adding…
Tarun Mottlia
Nov 5, 2026