Italy’s new age verification law hits VPN users
Italy is rolling out mandatory age verification for adult websites starting immediately. While VPNs still work to bypass the system, websites face new restrictions on what they can promote to users.
Category: Policy
Ofcom is secretly monitoring UK VPN use. Here’s what we know
Ofcom confirmed it’s using a secret third-party tool with AI capabilities to monitor VPN usage across the UK. The regulator refuses to name the provider, leaving privacy advocates concerned about surveillance methods and data accuracy.
FDA Chaos Threatens Medical Innovation and Patient Health
Internal discord at the FDA threatens to undermine America’s position as a global biomedical leader. Patients could face longer waits for new treatments amid the agency’s dysfunction.
The US and Europe Are Taking Wildly Different Approaches to Bank Regulation
The Federal Reserve is dramatically cutting supervision staff while the European Central Bank argues for more judgment-based oversight. This transatlantic divide reflects fundamentally different regulatory philosophies. Recent bank failures suggest neither approach is perfect.
TikTok Dodges Bullet, But DJI and TP-Link Are Next Targets
While TikTok appears safe for now, the Trump administration is aggressively pursuing bans against other Chinese tech giants. DJI drones face a December 23, 2025 cutoff, and TP-Link routers could be next. American companies are positioning to benefit from the crackdown.
EU Officials’ Phone Locations Were Basically For Sale
Reporters easily obtained location histories of European officials through commercial data brokers. The dataset contained 278 million location points from millions of phones in Belgium, exposing serious privacy gaps.
Norway’s $2.1tn oil fund suspends ethics rules for Big Tech
Norway’s government has pushed through an emergency measure to suspend its $2.1tn oil fund’s ethics rules. The move prevents forced divestment from Big Tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet over their work with the Israeli government.
CFPB’s Cybersecurity Collapses as Staff Flees
A federal audit reveals the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s cybersecurity program has become “not effective” after dropping two maturity levels. The agency has 35 systems operating without proper authorization and continues using outdated software. Staff departures and contractor cuts have cr
Supreme Court Confronts Historic Tax Power Battle With Far-Reaching Implications
A landmark Supreme Court case challenging presidential tariff authority threatens to rewrite constitutional tax powers and disrupt decades of trade policy. The outcome could fundamentally alter how Congress delegates taxing authority to the executive branch.
China’s Tech Self-Reliance Push Signals Decade-Long Competition
China’s recent Plenum meeting has charted a course toward technological self-reliance that directly challenges Western dominance. The Communist Party’s closed-door policy session signals a fundamental shift in global economic competition.