Facebook faces a fine of 798 million euros in the EU for abusing its market power by linking with its own Marketplace. A partnership with eBay aims to help, where some eBay listings are automatically transferred to Facebook Marketplace if deemed suitable by algorithms. Meanwhile, the Mars Rover Perseverance has collected soil samples to be studied on Earth, revealing the history of the red planet. NASA has selected two options for the costly return mission, set to launch in five or six years. The decision on which option to choose and how to finance it will be left to the new NASA leadership under the upcoming Trump administration.
The NATO is acting quickly, planning to send around ten ships to the Baltic Sea to protect critical underwater infrastructures after damages to several undersea cables. Artificial intelligence will play a role in monitoring the Russian shadow fleet. Selected eBay listings will now be automatically copied to Facebook’s Marketplace in a pilot trial in Germany, France, and the USA. A Facebook user will be directed to eBay to complete a purchase. However, sellers cannot currently choose whether an eBay listing is copied to Facebook Marketplace; this is decided by algorithms based on factors like shopping trends and offer quality.
NASA has developed two alternatives for retrieving soil samples from Mars for detailed scientific study on Earth. The decision on the return mission is left to NASA’s new head under the upcoming Trump administration. The final decision is expected in the second half of the coming year. NASA estimates the samples will reach Earth between 2035 and 2039.
NATO is responding faster than NASA. Following recent sabotage acts on critical underwater infrastructures in the Baltic Sea, the alliance will send a small fleet to protect cables in the sea area. Ships from the Baltic fleet in NATO service and boats directly sent by NATO countries will be involved. The operation is planned until April, with ships positioned near energy and data lines to have a deterrent effect and reduce sabotage risk.
Paypal has also responded quickly. Since the beginning of 2025, payments with Google Wallet and Google Pay were not possible if a Paypal account was linked. Paypal now reports the issue has been resolved and apologizes for any inconvenience. The cause of the payment rejection and how the issue was fixed remain undisclosed. Google has not provided information on the problem despite multiple inquiries.
Discord also faced issues with global disruptions reported yesterday, mainly affecting the desktop app, while the web client had fewer issues. The mobile app seemed unaffected. Discord found and resolved the problem with a third-party provider. Reloading the Discord client with CTRL+F might fix the issue in some cases.
The CES 2025 in Las Vegas showcases AI integration, from smart household devices to autonomous vehicles. Meanwhile, Meta is loosening moderation guidelines, with Mark Zuckerberg announcing more freedom of speech on Facebook and Instagram. The Chaos Communication Congress 38C3 discusses critical vulnerabilities, such as in electronic patient records.
Before the launch of electronic patient records, the head of the Federal Medical Association criticizes the e-patient record. Pediatricians advise against it. Paramount+ is set to introduce different subscription tiers, including ad-supported streaming. Osram launches the second generation of its LED retrofit lamps for H7 headlights, offering better brightness and lifespan with easier installation.
Consumers now have the right to request a smart meter from metering point operators. Urtopia showcases a lightweight titanium e-bike at CES, with a motor weighing only 1.2 kg and delivering 65 Nm. X-CEO Linda Yaccarino discusses “X Money” and its potential to change payments forever.
The European Court has ordered the EU Commission to pay damages due to “Sign in with Facebook.” Skoda’s Enyaq facelift features a new front design while retaining existing technology. A man in Las Vegas used AI tools like ChatGPT to plan the burning of a Cybertruck, considered a “game-changer” by police.
Due to high sickness rates in Germany, the Allianz CEO suggests an unpaid waiting day, although the electronic sick note seems to be driving the numbers up. Dell’s new brand strategy draws comparisons to Apple, with some amusement over Dell’s new PC variants.