Technology News in English
Latest technology headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
From failed experiments to a global hit: how the Satisfyer emerged from a Bavarian basement
The French comedy Pour le plaisir claims that a French engineer invented the Satisfyer, but the device was actually created by German engineer Michael Lenke. Lenke developed the popular air-pulse vibr...
Volkswagen converts factory for defense production
Volkswagen will stop vehicle production at its Osnabruck plant next year to transition the facility into a manufacturing hub for defense equipment. The partnership with the defense firm Rafael aims to...
Former executive of Belgian chipmaker suspected of spying for China
A former executive of the bankrupt Belgian chipmaker Belgan has been arrested on charges of espionage and fraud for allegedly leaking trade secrets to a Chinese company. Prosecutors suggest that the c...
Why rising national debt is now making your mortgage and loans more expensive
Rising national debt levels and persistent inflation are driving up interest rates as investors demand higher risk premiums on bonds. This trend, exacerbated by heavy investment in artificial intellig...
Police to release suspect's statement on Odido hack tonight
Dutch police are set to release an audio recording of a suspect who gained access to Odido's internal systems by impersonating an IT worker. Authorities have confirmed the voice is authentic and hope ...
Production of Dutch flying car can begin: set to take flight in 2028
Dutch company PAL-V has received production certification from EASA for its flying car, the PAL-V Liberty. The vehicle is expected to receive full type certification within eighteen months, with plans...
Companies increasingly choosing air freight due to war and AI
Global businesses are shifting toward air freight to ensure faster delivery of critical goods amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. This logistics...
Snapchat sued in the Netherlands: platform accused of being addictive and unsafe for children
Stichting Massaschade & Consument has filed a class-action lawsuit against Snapchat in the Netherlands, alleging the platform's features are designed to be addictive for minors. The foundation is seek...
ProRail to replace all elevators at Haarlem station
ProRail is replacing all elevators at Haarlem station due to the equipment reaching the end of its service life, with work scheduled from September 18 through June. Passengers requiring elevator acces...
Three Dutch XR works in competition at Venice Immersive, the leading platform for immersive art
Three Dutch XR projects have been selected for competition at the prestigious Venice Immersive festival, showcasing the Netherlands' prominent role in the global immersive art sector. The selected wor...
More illegal IPTV services shut down, but it remains an uphill battle
Stichting BREIN has shut down over 100 illegal IPTV services this year, yet the proliferation of such platforms remains a persistent challenge linked to organized crime. Experts warn that consumers fa...
Dolly Parton's sister slams AI content about late singer
Stella Parton has publicly criticized the rise of insensitive AI-generated content concerning her late sister, Dolly Parton. She is calling for more empathy and respect from the public, urging people ...
Nearly ten times as many reports of phishing emails involving booking sites
Reports of phishing scams involving booking platforms have increased nearly tenfold in the first half of 2026 compared to last year. Experts attribute this rise to recent data breaches that provided c...
Largest power station in the city to rise at the site of the old Hemweg power plant: the aorta of the Amsterdam electricity grid
A new electricity station is being built at the site of the former Hemweg coal-fired power plant in Amsterdam to alleviate pressure on the city's overloaded grid. City officials describe the project a...
Polarsteps banned from Ministry of Defence phones due to security tracking risks
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has prohibited the use of the travel app Polarsteps on official devices after a security flaw allowed military personnel to be tracked. While the app company claims the i...
First major series made entirely with AI scores on Chinese television
Beyond Wukong has premiered on Chinese television as the first large-scale series produced almost entirely with artificial intelligence. The show has achieved strong ratings, though its reliance on AI...
Screen Time | A robot that runs faster than Usain Bolt: so what?
Recent demonstrations at the World Humanoid Robot Games featured robots performing athletic feats like running faster than world-record holder Usain Bolt. Experts argue that while these developments s...
Dutch Polarsteps became a global hit, but now the travel app is under fire
The Dutch travel application Polarsteps, based in Amsterdam, is facing criticism for failing to adequately protect the private data of its 23 million users. Reports indicate that sensitive information...
Politics on the Amstel: Should Halsema still fly business class and Pro in trouble with data centers
Journalists from major local media outlets discuss key political issues in Amsterdam, including the Oostbrug budget controversy and Mayor Halsema's focus on homelessness. The podcast also explores loc...
European defense sector fears consequences of reduced reliance on US tech
European defense officials are warning that efforts to reduce reliance on American technology for sensitive applications could backfire due to a significant gap in regional technical capability. While...
Planned data center in Southeast becomes a headache for the coalition
Amsterdam is facing political friction as its efforts to halt the growth of data centers conflict with existing, long-standing infrastructure agreements. The coalition government is currently struggli...
Polarsteps photos and locations exposed: journalists accessed data of 23 million users
The Amsterdam-based travel app Polarsteps suffered a data breach exposing the personal information and GPS locations of 23 million users. Cybersecurity researchers and the platform Follow the Money un...
US space companies will not attend Paris space summit after all
Major US aerospace companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are skipping a space summit in Paris following reported pressure from the White House. The decision stems from diplomatic friction between the ...
Cars and trucks emit less CO2 for the first time since the pandemic
CO2 emissions from road traffic in the Netherlands dropped by 1.6 percent in 2025, marking the first decline since the pandemic years. While heavy transport remains a challenge, increased electrificat...
This 'giant radiator' is set to power Strandeiland
A new electrical substation designed to look like a giant radiator has been built on Strandeiland to support the future power needs of 8000 planned homes. Managed by Liander and designed by Powerhouse...
Drivers sue Uber over AI-driven payment system
Stichting WIE International has filed a lawsuit in Amsterdam against Uber, alleging that its AI-driven payment system violates privacy laws and creates unfair, non-transparent pay discrepancies for dr...
Digital threat in the Netherlands grows due to blurring borders and rise of AI
Dutch authorities have reported a surge in cybercrime fueled by the availability of off-the-shelf attack tools and the rise of decentralized criminal networks. Artificial intelligence is further exace...
Very cheap room in the heart of London: Booking.com leaves fake ad for 10 Downing Street listing up
The British consumer group Which? created a fake Booking.com listing for 10 Downing Street to demonstrate how easily fraudulent advertisements can persist on the platform. Despite the absurdity of the...
Video | Fighting game classic Street Fighter gets new feature film
A new feature film based on the classic video game series Street Fighter is currently in development. The movie will feature Ryu and Ken, who are recruited by Chun-Li to compete in the World Warrior T...
Experts warn: AI photos have become frighteningly real
Experts warn that artificial intelligence models have become so advanced that deepfakes are increasingly difficult to distinguish from real images. They highlight the growing threat of fraud and empha...