Big Tech companies

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million for breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The decision, reported by the Irish Times, is one of the largest GDPR penalties issued against a major technology company and intensifies scrutiny of how Google handles user data. The ruling is likely to fuel ongoing debate in Europe about enforcement against big tech firms.

Google is planning to launch an experimental satellite into orbit, marking the first move by a Big Tech company toward building AI data centers in space. The report, from the New York Times, signals the company's interest in shifting computing infrastructure beyond Earth, a concept floated to address the enormous power and cooling demands of AI.

Big Tech is betting its next wave of growth on AI-powered gadgets, particularly smart glasses, but the push is running into privacy concerns. Always-on cameras and microphones raise questions about recording bystanders and collecting constant data. Commentators argue companies must address consent and data protection rules if wearables are to win mainstream acceptance.

Reports say the US Department of Justice is internally divided as its antitrust case against Apple moves toward 2026, with the company holding an edge in the dispute over its roughly 27% App Store commission structure. A split within the DOJ could weaken the government's position and shape how Apple's App Store fees are regulated going forward.

Bleecker Street is releasing a film about Elon Musk, and discussion is picking up on tech forums. The project, listed on the distributor's site simply as 'Musk,' has people debating what a big-screen treatment of the billionaire might cover, from his companies to his public persona. Details about the film's content and release date are so far limited.