Germany has announced plans to phase out components from Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE in its 5G networks over the coming years due to national security concerns. This decision is part of Berlin’s broader effort to reduce economic dependence on Beijing, which many fear has made Germany vulnerable. The move also follows warnings from the European Union.
German officials emphasized the need to protect their telecom networks from cyberattacks, describing them as an “existential threat.” They also mentioned that agreements have been reached with 5G network operators in the country. In response, Huawei claimed there is “no specific evidence” of cybersecurity risks associated with their technology. Beijing’s embassy in Berlin criticized the decision, calling it driven by “groundless accusations.”
Apple has agreed to allow banks, payment services, and app developers to use the technology behind Apple Pay for competing tap-and-go payment services, ending a prolonged European Union antitrust investigation. The investigation, which began in 2020, aimed to determine if Apple was abusing its dominant position in the smartphone market to exclude rival payment service providers. However, this agreement does not apply to the Apple Watch, which also supports tap-and-go payments.
The Federal Trade Commission has prohibited NGL, an anonymous messaging app, from serving users under 18, citing violations of child privacy and consumer protection laws. Despite being marketed as a “safe space for teens” with strong moderation practices, NGL exposed users to cyberbullying and other harms, according to the agency. NGL has agreed to a $4.5 million settlement to compensate affected consumers, reached jointly with the Los Angeles district attorney, who also imposed a $500,000 civil penalty on the company. The agency found deceptive practices, including sending fake messages purportedly from real people to entice users and charging a $9.99 fee to reveal the senders’ identities.
