Technology News in English
Latest technology headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Social media must do more to tackle online fraud, say banks
Dutch banks are calling on social media companies such as TikTok, Meta, and Google to better protect users against online fraud. Research indicates that approximately 70 percent of all fraud cases cur...
Offlimits identified 2,200 AI-generated child abuse images last year
Expertise center Offlimits analyzed nearly 239,000 images of child sexual abuse last year, finding that over 2,200 were created using artificial intelligence. The findings were detailed in the organiz...
European Parliament wants tax on crypto and online gambling
The European Parliament has approved a mandate for the 2028-2034 EU budget, proposing a total of 2.2 trillion euros. To fund this increased budget, negotiators suggest introducing new taxes on cryptoc...
A full month without social media: this is what it gets you
Many people in the Netherlands are participating in 'Social-free May' by taking a month-long break from platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Psychologist Thijs Launspach supports the initiative, highl...
More reports of online abuse images created by children themselves
The Dutch expertise center Offlimits reports a disturbing increase in online abuse images created by minors themselves. This trend was highlighted in the organization's latest annual report on online ...
King's Day photos and videos cause major data traffic spike
Mobile data traffic across the Netherlands saw a significant increase on King's Day compared to the previous year, according to telecom provider KPN. The surge was driven by users sharing photos and v...
Waarderbrug in Haarlem closed due to defect
The Waarderbrug in Haarlem has been closed to all traffic since Sunday due to a technical defect that keeps the bridge in an open position. The municipality advises pedestrians, cyclists, and motorist...
The Foundling Podcast: DNA breakthrough in Lieve's search
Lieve, a foundling, achieved a breakthrough in the search for her biological family after a DNA test confirmed her Moroccan heritage and provided a match with a distant relative. Assisted by a private...
Taylor Swift registers voice and likeness against AI misuse
Taylor Swift has filed trademark applications for her voice and physical appearance to protect against unauthorized use by artificial intelligence. This proactive legal measure is intended to prevent ...
Australia to tax tech giants for not paying for news
Australia has introduced draft legislation that would impose higher taxes on tech giants like Meta, Google, and TikTok if they do not pay local media companies for news content. The measure aims to en...
Cyclists get green lights faster with special app
Cyclists in parts of the Netherlands can receive green lights faster by using a smartphone app that communicates with smart traffic lights. The app alerts the lights to an approaching cyclist, effecti...
Scientists provide proposals for phasing out fossil fuels
Scientists at a conference co-organized by the Netherlands and Colombia have concluded that phasing out fossil fuels is both necessary and achievable. Experts from 56 participating nations shared insi...
Ariane to start aerospace engineering at TU Delft after summer
Princess Ariane has announced that she will begin studying aerospace engineering at the Delft University of Technology after the summer break. The nineteen-year-old princess shared the news during the...
Bitcoin hits highest level in months after hopeful news on Middle East war
Bitcoin's value has reached its highest point in nearly three months, driven by optimism regarding the conflict in the Middle East. The surge follows reports suggesting that peace negotiations between...
Silence after returning smartwatch: Rob fears he’s lost both watch and money
Rob is facing uncertainty after returning a faulty smartwatch to an online store because the device stopped charging properly. He has not received a response regarding a replacement or refund, leading...
Away from Trump and Big Tech: Dutch data to end up with Lidl's parent company
Dutch data will increasingly be stored by the Schwarz Group, the parent company of Lidl, as an alternative to US tech giants like Google and Microsoft. This shift is seen by experts as a way for Europ...
Mass theft of fat bike screens in Southeast: Leave it outside and it's gone
Police in Amsterdam-Zuidoost report a significant increase in the theft of display screens from fatbikes, which are often used to bypass speed limits. Authorities advise owners to remove the screens w...
Rare 17th-century measuring instrument from Indian royal family to be auctioned
A rare 17th-century astrolabe that once belonged to an Indian royal family is set to be auctioned in the United Kingdom next week. The instrument is significantly larger than typical examples, measuri...
Waarderbrug temporarily closed to car and bicycle traffic
The Waarderbrug in Haarlem is temporarily closed to all road traffic, including pedestrians and cyclists, due to a technical defect that requires a replacement part. While the bridge remains open for ...
Massive bridge deck to sail through the city to Zuidas in the coming days
A massive 21-by-26-meter bridge deck for the Schinkelbrug is being transported by boat through Amsterdam's waterways to the Zuidas. The final leg of the journey will take place on Tuesday evening to a...
40 years after Chernobyl, we are committing to nuclear power again. Is it suddenly safe?
On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, this article examines the safety of nuclear energy in the modern era. It addresses seven key questions about whether a similar catastrophe could happ...
From broken frame to trust: how an e-bike saga ended well
Ron Poppen experienced a spontaneous frame break on his e-bike, later discovering a recall campaign he had not been notified about. He shared his story with the 'Klasse' column to describe how the sit...
Power grid full because geese took priority
The Dutch government's underestimation of power grid congestion has stalled new housing projects and forced the use of diesel generators in cities like Delft. This situation highlights conflicting pol...
Channel of Rouand, who prank called shooting suspect, taken offline
Cabinet extends contract with DigiD company despite parliamentary opposition
The Dutch cabinet will extend its contract with Solvinity, the provider responsible for operating the DigiD digital identity system, starting early next month. State Secretary Eric van der Burg confir...
OpenAI CEO apologizes for not tipping off police about shooting suspect
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized for the company's failure to notify police about a blocked account linked to a suspect who killed eight people at a Canadian school in February. The suspect committed ...
He programs systems that know exactly when you buy something, but Tom (53) has doubts: ‘It’s gnawing at me’
Tom, a 53-year-old software engineer, has raised ethical concerns about the AI systems he develops to predict consumer behavior. Speaking with career expert Anne-Marije Buckens, he expressed fear that...
YouTuber Rouand YT's account taken offline after link to shooting that killed innocent boys
The YouTube account of Rouand YT has been taken offline following his connection to a fatal shooting in Amsterdam on New Year's Day. The action was taken after it was revealed he recorded a video earl...
YouTube channel of streamer who prank-called fatal shooting suspect taken offline
The YouTube channel Rouand YT has gone offline after the creator admitted to making a prank call to a man suspected of fatally shooting two Syrian teenagers in Amsterdam on New Year's Day. Shortly aft...
We can let AI take over tasks, but please not the profession
In his weekly column Schermtijd, tech reporter Rutger Otto examines the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in office environments. He argues that while AI can be utilized to automate speci...