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| Today's tech briefing: - Big Tech companies make changes to comply with new EU rules.
- Apple iOS 17.4 supports third-party app stores in EU, new emoji for all iPhone users.
- U.S. bill would force ByteDance to divest TikTok or face ban.
- Study: AI tools create misleading election photos.
Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | New European Union rules designed to rein in Big Tech dominance take effect at midnight today. The Digital Markets Act, or DMA, targets nearly two dozen services from Amazon, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok owner ByteDance. The rules require the six tech "gatekeepers" to promote fair and open markets by supporting third-party interoperability, avoiding bias in their product rankings, and not forcing outside app developers to use their payment systems, among other rules. More: - On the list are Google's Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android; Amazon's Marketplace; Apple's Safari and iOS; Meta's Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp; and Microsoft's Windows and LinkedIn, among others.
- By Thursday, companies must turn in reports to the EU detailing their compliance plans.
- The first focus will be making sure smaller app stores get fair access to operating systems, letting users choose between different app stores on their devices.
- Companies that repeatedly break the rules risk fines of up to 20% of their yearly global revenue or even a business breakup.
- As part of the "Brussels Effect," countries like Japan, Britain, and others are also adopting DMA-like rules to curb Big Tech dominance.
How tech is adapting: - To comply with the rules, Apple announced that European iPhone users will be able to download apps beyond its App Store.
- Google says it will start showing different search results for online EU shoppers. The company will let users choose their search engine and web browser when setting up their Android phones.
- Meta is giving users in Europe the option to unlink their different accounts, such as Messenger and Facebook.
- Amazon has started asking for consent from EU store visitors to use their data for personalized advertising.
- Microsoft will allow EU users to disable Bing web search and offer an option to uninstall its Edge browser.
- A report by The Verge details all the ways companies are responding to the DMA.
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| 2 | | Apple's new iOS 17.4 update adds support for third-party app stores and payment options on iPhones in the EU. Apple is opening up parts of its "walled garden" to comply with the EU's new DMA tech competition rules. More: - The iPhone software update allows EU users to sideload apps from other marketplaces and use third-party payment systems when buying apps and services.
- In the EU, browser developers can now bypass Apple's WebKit, the engine that underpins Safari.
- Apple is also allowing third-party apps to access the iPhone's Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, expanding contactless payment options beyond Apple Pay in wallet and banking apps.
Zoom out: - Beyond the EU, iOS 17.4 introduces new emojis globally, including a mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking head.
- Apple Podcasts can now automatically transcribe in English, Spanish, French, and German.
- Other updates include battery health improvements, multilingual message reading by Siri, stolen device protection, Apple Cash virtual card numbers, and improved caller ID for Apple-verified businesses.
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| 3 | | A newly introduced House bill would force ByteDance to divest TikTok within six months or face a U.S. ban. The bill, while focused on TikTok, includes language that could lead to bans on other apps controlled by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. More: - The "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" aims to address national security concerns about ByteDance potentially sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government.
- U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, announced the legislation this week, with 19 lawmakers on board.
- The bipartisan bill would penalize U.S. web hosting services and app stores that distribute TikTok unless it separates from ByteDance within about six months.
- TikTok argued the bill infringes on the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans and 5 million small businesses that rely on the platform.
Zoom out: - The bill revives efforts to ban TikTok or force ByteDance to sell the app after previous attempts stalled amid TikTok's lobbying.
- Both the Trump and Biden administrations have pressured ByteDance to sell or spin off TikTok.
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| 4 | AI-powered image creators from companies like OpenAI and Microsoft can be used to create misleading photos about elections and voting, according to a study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The nonprofit was able to generate fake and "convincing" images of Joe Biden in a hospital bed, Donald Trump in a jail cell, and ballots in a dumpster. 
Details: The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) tested the popular AI image tools Midjourney, ChatGPT Plus, DreamStudio, and Microsoft's Image Creator, finding that they generate images with election disinformation in 41% of cases and voting disinformation in 59% of cases. This was in spite of safeguards embedded in the systems. What the numbers show: Among the four tools, Midjourney had the highest rate for producing election disinformation images at 65%, while Image Creator had the highest rate for generating misleading voting images at 75%. Why it matters: CCDH researchers warned that AI-generated images can become "photo evidence" to further spread false claims and challenge election integrity. At least 83 elections are scheduled around the world this year, the highest concentration in the next 24 years. Last month, 20 tech giants, including OpenAI, Amazon, and Google, signed an accord to develop tools for detecting fake and deceptive AI-generated media, along with voter education campaigns, and watermarking of AI images. | | | |
| 5 | | The U.S. FDA has approved the first over-the-counter glucose monitor for continuously tracking blood sugar levels. Dexcom's Stelo is a wearable sensor that, when worn on the upper arm, syncs with a smartphone app to measure and analyze glucose levels every 15 minutes. More: - The device is the first glucose biosensor that doesn't need a prescription.
- It targets adults over 18 treating diabetes with oral medications instead of insulin, or people without diabetes who want to monitor their glucose levels.
- The FDA said the monitor is not for people concerned about low blood sugar, as it doesn't alert users to low or dropping levels.
- Dexcom plans to launch Stelo this summer, with pricing details yet to be announced.
Zoom out: - According to Dexcom, around 25 million people in the U.S. have Type 2 diabetes and don't use insulin.
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| 6 | | Google will soon launch an update to improve websites' rankings in search results, including efforts to address "low-quality AI-generated content," a spokesperson said. Google is updating its algorithms to improve search quality by filtering out low-quality, spammy, and/or automated content, with changes set to roll out in May. More: - Google will target mass content creation, including both human and AI-generated content, that's designed to manipulate search rankings.
- In a blog post, Google says the update aims to boost traffic to high-quality sites.
- When combined with prior updates, the company hopes it will cut "low-quality unoriginal" content in search by 40%.
- Google's update will also tackle "site reputation abuse," when reputable websites also host low-quality, third-party content.
Zoom out: - While the blog doesn't directly mention AI, Google's Search Central notes that "automation" is being used more and more for mass content creation, including news websites that are almost entirely written by AI software.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a contributing editor and writer of Inside's AI and Tech newsletters. She has written for publications including USA Today, the Arizona Business Gazette, and The Arizona Republic, where she received recognition with a Pulitzer Prize nomination and a First Amendment Award for collaborative reporting on state pension cost increases. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@yahoo.com. | | This newsletter was edited by Eduardo Garcia | |
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