France

Macron’s Aim of EU Unity on China Undone by Trip Fallout

French officials were in damage control mode on Tuesday as they tried to contain anger, division and confusion sparked by President Emmanuel Macron’s comments on Europe’s dependence on the United States and its relations with China and Taiwan. Macron’s comments came in an interview on a trip to China that was meant to showcase European […]

Factbox - Governments’ Efforts to Regulate AI Tools

Italy’s data protection agency said on Wednesday it would lift its temporary ban on OpenAI’s ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) technology if the U.S. company complied with data protection and privacy demands by end-April. Rapid advances in AI such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT are complicating governments’ efforts to agree on laws governing the use of the […]

Spain Asks EU Data Protection Board to Discuss OpenAI’s ChatGPT

Spain’s data protection agency has asked the European Union’s privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the agency told Reuters on Tuesday, as global scrutiny of artificial intelligence (AI) systems intensifies. News of the request by the AEPD came as France’s privacy watchdog CNIL said it was investigating several complaints about ChatGPT and […]

In Beijing, French Business Community Welcomes Macron’s Overtures

Among the French business executives travelling to Beijing with President Emmanuel Macron, the mood was cautiously sanguine on the thawing post-pandemic trade prospects with China, with some rejecting American-led calls for ‘decoupling’. Macron travelled to China with a 50-strong delegation of business leaders including the CEOs of Airbus, Alstom and EDF, raising eyebrows among some […]

Ahead of Xi Meet, Macron Warns about Risks of Cutting off China

French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe must resist eroding trade and diplomatic ties with China as he arrived for a state visit on Wednesday, seeking to refute any sense there was an “inescapable spiral” of tension between Beijing and the West. Shortly after touching down ahead of EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is […]

Car Services Groups Warn of Unfair Competition as EU Data Plan Stalls

 (This March 31 story has been corrected to say Laurianne Krid is director general of FIA Region I, part of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and not director general of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, in paragraph 8) Car services groups on Friday warned a stalled EU proposal to ensure fair access to valuable […]

GM Plans to Phase Out Apple Carplay in EVS, With Google’s Help

 General Motors plans to phase out widely-used Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technologies that allow drivers to bypass a vehicle’s infotainment systems, shifting instead to built-in infotainment systems developed with Google for future electric vehicles. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems allow users to mirror their smartphone screens in a vehicle’s dashboard display. GM’s decision […]

US, Partner Countries Call for Controls to Counter Misuse of Spyware

The United States and some of its partner countries on Thursday called for strict domestic and international controls to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware. The joint statement was issued by the governments of Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The […]

France Looks to AI-Powered Surveillance to Secure Olympics

France’s National Assembly on Thursday approved the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Olympics, overlooking warnings from civil rights groups that the technology posed a threat to civil liberties. The government says algorithmic video surveillance can detect “pre-determined events”, abnormal behaviour and crowd surges, helping ensure the safety of millions […]

Renault in Talks with Nissan on EV Charging in Europe - Renault Executive

French car maker Renault is in talks with Nissan about synergies in electric vehicle charging in 11 European countries, Renault’s charging unit CEO told Reuters on Thursday. Talks have already moved forward in France on charging boxes that customers can have installed at home for their Nissan EV, which will be supplied by the Mobilize […]