The introduction of the electronic patient record in Germany has been accompanied by concerns about data security from the beginning. Experts have previously suggested that insured individuals could sell their data to health insurance companies. Health data is particularly valuable. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has often referred to the electronic patient record and the Health Research Data Center as untapped and growing data treasures. In a campaign speech, CDU Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz proposed financial incentives for those who donate their health data. This suggestion was met with criticism.
Merz suggested that those who provide their data could pay 10% less in health insurance contributions. This sparked a debate about privacy and the value of personal health data. The idea of monetizing personal data has raised ethical questions about consent, privacy, and the potential for exploitation.
In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as an official currency. The government expected this move to improve access to payment systems for the poor, facilitate money transfers from Salvadorans abroad, and attract more foreign investments. However, by January 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged El Salvador to abandon Bitcoin, citing financial stability risks. The IMF made this a condition for a $1.4 billion loan, and El Salvador has now reversed its decision to use Bitcoin as currency.
Elon Musk’s social network X filed a lawsuit against the advertising industry association World Federation of Advertisers and companies like Mars, CVS Health, Ørsted, and Twitch. X accused them of organizing an advertising boycott against the company following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. The boycott was intended to enforce compliance with the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) guidelines. In November 2022, several advertising agencies advised their clients to refrain from paid advertising on Twitter. X has expanded its lawsuit to include more companies like Lego, Pinterest, and Nestlé, accusing them of damaging and illegal boycotts.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI start-up, has generated excitement in the tech world, primarily due to its lower development costs. The company’s AI chatbot is said to rival large language models like ChatGPT or Gemini but at a fraction of the cost. However, the reported costs of around $5.6 million for DeepSeek-V3 are believed to be only a small part of the total expenses. The development of DeepSeek-V3 is thought to have been much more expensive, and the company reportedly had access to tens of thousands of GPU accelerators, some of which fall under US export bans.
Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs once suggested that those wanting porn apps should switch to Android. However, a new EU law on digital markets requires companies classified as gatekeepers, like Apple, to offer alternative app stores on their platforms. This regulation has opened the way for porn apps on the iPhone. Apple has now approved its first porn app for distribution on iPhones in the EU.
Since the beginning of the year, Austrian doctors are no longer allowed to fax. Patients have to wait while USB sticks are transported by taxi and ambulances deliver CD-ROMs, causing chaos in Austria’s healthcare system.
Renault has unveiled the Filante Record 2025, an electric car inspired by historical models. It aims to set efficiency records with its retro design.
Tesla has shown a video demonstrating its vision of autonomous robot cars being cleaned autonomously by robots, showcasing a cleaning robot for robotaxis.
JetBrains has updated its IT salary calculator, providing insights into developer salaries based on programming language, country, and experience.
China’s solar industry is under pressure due to falling prices and patent lawsuits, which could have global implications.
Buyers of the premium editions of “Civilization 7” will have access from February 6, and initial reviews have shown very mixed results.
Older Apple Watch models had a defect where the battery could swell and lift the display. A class-action lawsuit resulted in Apple paying $20 million to affected users.
The Dream Chaser space transporter has passed an important test for a flight to the ISS, with its first flight planned for mid-year.
After Apple was not allowed to be a co-defendant, the company’s lawyers are trying a new approach in a case involving significant Safari advertising revenue from Google.
The near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR₄ has been observed hundreds of times, and while a collision cannot be ruled out, the risk is not yet decreasing.
The “Solar Peak Law” has passed the Bundestag, bringing changes like feed-in tariffs during peak times and smart meters for photovoltaic owners.
