Airbnb, a short-term home rental company, had 779 million euros seized in Italy on the grounds of tax evasion. The investigation, initiated by the Milan Prosecutor’s Office, alleges that the company failed to pay a 21% tax on the 3.7 billion euros of revenue from its European headquarters in Ireland between 2017 and 2021. Here ate the details…

Airbnb Tax Evasion Investigation in Italy Targets Company and Individuals

As part of the investigation, it was revealed that the financial police confiscated 779 million euros from the company. Additionally, an ongoing investigation targets three individuals who held managerial positions at Airbnb between 2017 and 2021. The company had previously contested the 2017 Italian law regarding rental taxes, arguing that it violated European Union regulations. According to this law, Airbnb and other short-term rental companies are required to pay 21% of their rental income to tax authorities.

Last December, Airbnb’s objection to this law was rejected by the European Court of Justice. Following the recent action by Italian authorities, Airbnb officials expressed their surprise and disappointment with the prosecutor’s decision. They also noted that they have been in discussions with the Italian tax authority since June 2023 in an effort to resolve the issue.

Airbnb emphasized its belief in operating in full compliance with the law and its intention to assert its rights. The Italian government had also announced last week that it would intensify its scrutiny of homeowners engaged in short-term home rentals. Furthermore, there are plans to increase the tax rate from 21% to 26% for those who rent multiple properties, with the government aiming to generate approximately 1 billion euros in additional revenue through this measure.

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OpenAI’s AI chatbot, ChatGPT, is once again available to users in Italy following significant improvements to data privacy and transparency measures. The Italian data protection authority, Garante, blocked the platform in March due to concerns about how ChatGPT processed and saved user data.

Enhanced transparency and rights for European users

OpenAI responded to these concerns by implementing several changes to the platform, including increased transparency on the website about how user data is processed, opt-out rights for users, and age verification measures to protect children under 13. In addition, the platform now carries a notice warning users that ChatGPT may produce inaccurate information about “people, places, or facts.” These changes have been welcomed by Garante, who noted that ChatGPT now offers “enhanced transparency and rights for European users.”

ChatGPT has been a controversial platform since its launch in 2022, generating essays, poems, songs, and computer code based on user input. However, its release has sparked debates about the implications of artificial intelligence and the need for appropriate regulatory measures. The Italian ban on ChatGPT in March was the first instance of a Western country taking action against the platform. Italian authorities criticized the handling of inaccurate information generated by the chatbot and the potential vulnerability of children to “absolutely unsuitable answers.”

OpenAI’s successful response to Italy’s concerns highlights the importance of data privacy and transparency in the development of artificial intelligence. The changes implemented to ChatGPT demonstrate the company’s commitment to protecting user’s personal data and promoting responsible AI development. As it continues to evolve, users can benefit from new data privacy features, including the ability to turn off their chat history.

Despite these positive developments, ChatGPT is expected to face potential competition from China in AI development, as noted by Microsoft’s President. Furthermore, while there has been speculation about the next version of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s CEO has clarified that the company is not currently working on ChatGPT-5.

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The Italian data protection agency, Garante, has outlined a set of demands that OpenAI’s ChatGPT must meet to resume operations in Italy. This follows a temporary restriction on personal data processing and an investigation into a possible breach of privacy rules, which resulted in OpenAI taking ChatGPT offline in Italy two weeks ago.

OpenAI has yet to respond to Garante’s demands. The watchdog requires OpenAI to inform Italian users about the methods and logic behind the data processing necessary for ChatGPT to function. Additionally, Garante asks OpenAI to provide tools that allow individuals, including non-users, to request the correction or deletion of inaccurately generated personal data.

Garante also requests that OpenAI introduces an age verification system by the end of September to exclude access to users under 13. Garante reserves the right to impose further measures at the end of its ongoing investigation into potential breaches of data protection rules by OpenAI.

Experts argue that new regulations are necessary to govern AI due to its potential impact on national security, jobs, and education. The Italian action on ChatGPT has caught the attention of other European privacy watchdogs who are considering stricter measures for chatbots and coordinating their efforts. Spain’s data protection agency has asked the European Union’s privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT.

In February, the Italian regulator banned AI chatbot company Replika from using personal data in Italy due to risks posed to minors and emotionally vulnerable individuals. It remains to be seen how OpenAI will respond to Garante’s demands, and if other countries will impose similar regulations on AI-powered chatbots.

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The ban on ChatGPT in Italy has raised concerns over data privacy and the regulation of AI technology. ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI, has become increasingly popular worldwide since its launch in November 2022. The chatbot’s impressive abilities have been utilized by users for various purposes, including writing essays, generating ideas for video content, and composing poetry. However, the ban in Italy marks the first time that a country has taken action against the use of an AI chatbot.

The Italian government’s data protection authority has accused OpenAI of unlawfully collecting personal data from users and failing to have adequate age-verification measures in place to prevent minors from being exposed to illicit material. The ban comes after a data breach was reported on March 20, which OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged. The ban has prompted OpenAI to provide additional information and possible remedies before the Italian government makes a final decision on the future of ChatGPT in the country.

The ban in Italy has caused concern among ChatGPT users and the wider tech community. As AI technology continues to advance and become more integrated into our daily lives, it is likely that more countries will implement stricter regulations to ensure the protection of user data and privacy. OpenAI’s response to the ban highlights the need for AI regulation, which has been a topic of discussion among tech experts for some time.

In a recent interview with podcast host Lex Friedman, Sam Altman talked about the possibility of AI replacing some human jobs, including customer service. He acknowledged that he was worried about how quickly this change would come, but also stated that human creativity is limitless and we find new jobs to do eventually.

The ban on ChatGPT in Italy serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting user data and privacy in the age of AI. As AI technology continues to evolve, it is essential that governments and tech companies work together to develop ethical and responsible practices that ensure the safe and secure use of AI technology.

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It’s been a few months since Google announced its flagship smartphones — Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Now, both these smartphones from the company are finally available for purchase in Italy and Spain.

With the availability of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones in Italy and Spain, the latest flagship devices from Google are now available in 11 countries. This is also the first time the tech giant is expanding the availability of phones to new regions.

The Google Pixel 6 lineup is available in only Just Black or Carbon color option in Italy and Spain. The standard model is priced at €649 for the 128GB storage model while the Pro model with 128GB storage costs €899.

The company says that both the devices will have “limited availability” and adds that additional devices will be made available from May. It remains unknown what’s the stock count for both these new offerings.

For those who are unaware, the Pixel 6 series phones were already available in select European markets ever since their unveiling in October last year, which include United Kingdom, France, the Republic of Ireland, and Germany.

These are the first smartphones from Google that come powered by the company’s own Google Tensor chipset and not Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor. The strategy seems to have worked as the company recently revealed that these new phones managed to break all the previous phone sales records.

The launch of Pixel 6 series phones in other regions come at a time when the company is expected to soon launch the Pixel 6a smartphone. However, the launch is still months away and we expect to know more about the phone in the coming weeks.

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Earlier this year, in May, the OPPO A54 smartphone was launched, which was then followed by a new variant with support for 5G connectivity. Now, the company has launched yet another variant of the phone, dubbed as OPPO A54s.

The smartphone has also been listed on the Amazon Italy website for the price of EUR 229.99, which is approximately $267. It comes in two color options — Crystal Black and Pearl Bluee. The company has revealed that the phone will be available for purchase in Italy from 18th November.

Coming to the specifications, the OPPO A54s features a 6.52-inch HD+ LCD display that offers 1600 x 720 pixels screen resolution, 88.7 percent screen-to-body ratio, 269ppi pixel density, and 480nits brightness.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 chipset, coupled with IMG GE8320 GPU. The device packs 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM RAM and 128GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot to further expand the storage capacity up to 256GB.

In the camera department, there’s a triple-camera setup on the back that includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor with f/2.2 aperture, a 2-megapixel mono sensor with f/2.4 aperture, and a 2-megapixel macro lens with f/2.4 aperture. On the front side, the device features an 8-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. It has an IPX4 rating, making the device water-resistant. Connectivity options on the device include 4G LTE, Bluetooth v5, GPS/A-GPS, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The OPPO A54s smartphone runs the Android 11 operating system out-of-the-box with a ColorOS 11 custom interface. The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging support. It comes with a super power-saving mode and super nighttime standby modes to reduce power consumption.

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Rome is apparently seeking to win over Intel and have it invest billions to build a chipmaking plant in Italy. The news arrives amid a global shortage of semiconductors that has affected various economies and industries across the globe.

According to a Reuters report, sources close to the matter have revealed that Italy is drawing up offers to convince the chipmaking giant to setup an advanced chip production site in the country. As per the three sources, the government is already in talks with team blue regarding the potential investment, with its preliminary estimates being more than 4 billion euros (roughly 4.7 billion US Dollars).

Notably, the new chip plant in Italy would be in line with the drive by the US group that seeks to build advanced semiconductor based factories in Europe. This, in turn, would help prevent major shortages or supply constraints in the future. For those unaware, the world is currently facing a global shortage of chipsets. The issue in supply was so sizeable that automobile production for certain carmakers had halted entirely earlier this year.

Now, it seems that Rome is ready to fund part of this multi billion dollar plan that could reach around 8 billion euros just to build a cutting edge chip plant with Intel. This factory would also create more than 1000 jobs in the nation. One of the sources told Reuters that “The government is preparing a very detailed offer with the aim of clinching a deal by the end of the year. Discussions with Intel are at an advanced stage. There is no deal yet, but if the government works hard on this it has a good chance of bringing the plant to Italy.”

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The Italy-based unit of Vodafone has received conditional approval from Rome to use the equipment made by the world’s leading telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei in its 5G radio access network, reports Reuters.

As per the sources aware of the development, the government of national unity led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi has authorized the deal between the two companies — Vodafone and Huawei, on 20th May.

The government has reportedly imposed a set of prescriptions, including restrictions on remote intervention by Huawei to fix technical glitches and an extremely high-security threshold, adds the report based on sources.

Italy can block or impose tough conditions on deals involving non-European vendors under “golden powers.” So far, the golden powers have been used three times since 2012 to block foreign interest in industries deemed to be of strategic importance.

The development comes at a time when the United States has banned Huawei in its country and is also lobbying its allies, including Italy and other European countries to block Huawei from participating in the deployment of next-generation 5G infrastructure. The US government is citing national security risk as a reason behind sanctions against China-based companies like Huawei and ZTE, among others.

However, Italy has not banned Huawei entirely from the 5G infrastructure but has adopted a tougher stance against the company. Previously, Rome had prevented telecoms group Fastweb in October from signing a deal with Huawei to supply equipment for its 5G core network, where highly sensitive data is processed.

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Telecom Italia is looking to cancel to contract with Huawei for supplying equipment to build part of the telecom firm’s 5G network in the country, reports Reuters citing sources aware of the development.

If the company goes ahead with the plan, then it will be a major blow to the Chinese telecom giant as Telecom Italia is one of Huawei’s biggest clients in Europe. The company has already lost some business to its rivals Nokia and Ericsson.

The development comes as the United States has been pressuring its allies to ban Huawei equipment from their 5G infrastructure, citing a national security risk. However, in the European region, only Britain and Sweden have banned Huawei for 5G.

Now, this new report, citing a source aware of the development, claims that Telecom Italia has sent a letter to Huawei informing its intention to call off the contract. The development was first reported by the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

Earlier, the plan of the Italian company was to give the contract to Huawei and Ericsson but later the company split in among three companies by bringing Nokia to the mix. But now it seems that the contract will be split between Nokia and Ericsson.

Huawei was already excluded from the core of the 5G network which is used for processing sensitive data. The new development related to the Chinese giant comes after a review of supply policy, including a cost and benefit analysis, says the report.

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Apple is constantly in the news not only for its products and services but for facing lawsuits as well. A new lawsuit filed by an Italian Consumer Protection agency could cost the Cupertino giant up to 60 million euros if it loses.

Italy’s Altroconsumo has filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple in the Court of Milan. It says that the company has deceived consumers with practices of “planned obsolescence”. That is, the lawsuit is for more than 1 million units of affected iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, and 6S Plus sold between 2014 and 2020.

It is referring to the performance throttling(“batterygate”) that Apple’s iPhone 6-series devices faced then. A similar issue made Apple pay a whopping $500 million back in March 2020. Also, this new lawsuit comes a month after the company was slapped with a 10 million euros fine in Italy over “misleading claims regarding water resistance”.

Anyway, Altroconsumo is asking for a compensation of about €60 million(~$73 million). It is trying to convey that Apple is using unfair practices to slow down the older iPhones through software updates which inturn degrades battery. To cover up the contested throttling issue, Apple had reportedly opened a “battery replacement campaign” at a reduced price(€29-€89).

While the earlier lawsuit in US-made Apple pay $25 to each affected consumer, this one would amount to about 60 euros per concerned person. Apple has been facing a lot of “batterygate” lawsuits in Europe lately. Italy is the latest to join the countries like Belgium and Spain which filed a similar one last month.

Although Apple had denied a planned batterygate campaign, it has admitted in the past that the processor’s clock speeds will reduce if the battery degrades. Let’s see how it handles this one as Portugal prepares to join with its own lawsuit soon.

Ivo Tarantino, External Relations Manager of Altroconsumo says, “We hope this is the last step to remedy the damage caused to date by the company but it is also the first step towards greater fairness by Apple towards its consumers”.

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The antitrust authority in Italy slapped a fine of 10 million euros (roughly 12 million US Dollars) on Apple earlier this week. The company is being fined for “aggressive and misleading” commercial practices for its iPhones.

According to an ET report, the regulators said in a statement that the Cupertino based giant had been advertising certain aspects regarding its iPhones that might not be true. The primary culprit here is the water resistance claims that the company offered. Apparently, the water resistance claim only held true in certain controlled environments, which was never clarified to its customer. In other words, real world scenarios for its water resistance did not hold up quite well, and that this false claim has been tracked down till the iPhone 8

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Furthermore, the issue also extends towards its warranty service as well. Apple added a diclaimer that stated that its iPhones were not covered under warranty if they suffere damage from liquids. This essentially tricked the customers that believed that their phones were water resistant, but could not seek support in the case of the device getting damaged due to exposure to liquids, as stated by the antitrust body.

Unfortunately, Apple has declined to comment on the matter at the moment. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates when more information is available regarding the matter, or when the company finally publicly addresses the hefty fine it faces in Italy.

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Italy has just prevented the telecom group, Fastweb, from signing a deal with Huawei to supply equipment for core 5G network, as per multiple sources, which believe that this move is a clear indicator of Rome adopting a stricter stance against Chinese firms.

The move to prevent this deal was decided by a cabinet meeting earlier this month, which also marked the first time Italy has had to veto a deal over 5G core networks with Huawei. Previously, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Italy back in September and had described the Chinese tech giant as a threat to the country’s national security, similar to the Trump administration’s stand on the company in the US.

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At the moment, Huawei has strongly rejected the charges and its Italian unit is ready to undergo any scrutiny to showcase the safety of its technology. However, the meeting from earlier this month has decided to use the body’s special vetting powers to block Fastweb from striking a deal with the Chinese firm for the supply sensitive parts for its 5G mobile networking solution in the country, as per sources close to the matter.

According to a Reuters report, a senior government official has stated that “The government has vetoed the operation, asking Fastweb to diversify its suppliers.” Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s office also plans on evaluating Huawei’s role in the 5G core networks in the region. While many European nations like the UK have sought to ban the Chinese brand, Italy has yet to do so yet. So stay tuned for more updates regarding this matter.

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After the United Kingdom ditched Huawei from its 5G infrastructure and ordered companies to get rid of Huawei hardware from their existing network by 2027, the United States has now renewed its efforts to pressure Europe to ditch Huawei.

Keith Krach, the undersecretary of state for economic affairs, has warned Germany and Italy that Huawei is “an arm of the CCP surveillance state and a tool for human rights abuse.” However, neither Keith Krach nor the United States has provided any evidence regarding their claims.

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He has also recommended Finland-based Nokia and Sweden-based Ericsson for the 5G infrastructure development in Europe, adding that these two were the only companies that European governments should choose. He said that the company’s involvement in European 5G mobile networks would put the NATO alliance at risk.

Germany and Italy are in the discussion about whether to allow the telecom giant to participate in building the nation’s 5G network. The development comes after the U.K. and France have banned Huawei, bowing down to the pressure from the U.S.

The United States has already put several sanctions on the Chinese giant, making it practically impossible for the world’s largest smartphone company to survive in the premium smartphone market. The U.S. is also attempting to shut it out from the 5G market by forcing suppliers to seek a license for doing business with Huawei.

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The 5G network is already live in various countries, including the US, UK, China, South Korea, Switzerland, and now it is switched on in Italy. Vodafone has lit 5G services across 28 municipalities of the Milan metropolitan area and in four more cities including Rome, Turin, Bologna, and Naples.

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Talking about the plans, Aldo Biso, Vodafone’s CEO, said the company aims to extend the 5G services to 45 to 50 cities by the next year, and 100 by 2021. He further revealed that it would take another 4-5 years to get the same coverage for 5G as we have for the 4G nowadays. He believes, “5G paves the way for a new era of digital development services across the country, we expect our services to grow exponentially and have a profound social and economic impact.” 

TIM and Fastweb will soon compete with Vodafone by launching their 5G services throughout the country.

Vodafone users can enjoy the 5G network with three new smartphones – Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G, LG V50 ThinQ 5G, and Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. However, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is currently available on sale, whereas the other two devices will be available in the next few days. The interested users have to pay an extra €5/month to enjoy the 5G services.

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