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☆ German antitrust head warns AI may boost Big Tech's dominance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Hakan Ersen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google and Microsoft (MSFT.O) have recently become rivals in artificial intelligence (AI), with the latter investing heavily in OpenAI and the former building the Bard AI chatbot among other investments. The surge in AI popularity has prompted governments around the world to try to impose rules on the use of the technology, with the European Union in a race to adopt its landmark AI rules by the end of the year. "The danger is very great because you need two things above all for AI, powerful servers and vast amounts of data. Mundt said the field was still open to competition but regulators need to ensure it remains so. "Both developments are possible, and as an authority we have to be careful that any competitive potential is not buried from the outset."

Persons: Andreas Mundt, Wolfgang Rattay, Mundt, Foo Yun, Mark Potter Organizations: Federal, Office, REUTERS, Alpha, Big, Google, Microsoft, European Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bonn, Germany, FRANKFURT, OpenAI

☆ Deutsche Telekom: mooted timeline on German Huawei curbs unrealistic
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Deutsche Telekom is pictured at the GSMA's 2023 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Nacho Doce/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) on Wednesday said the mooted timeline on Germany imposing curbs on the use of China's Huawei (HWT.UL) in its network by 2026 were not realistic, highlighting Britain's drawn-out attempts to do so. In a statement to Reuters, Deutsche Telekom questioned the need to take action that could result in a significant drop in quality of service to customers. Earlier a government official said Germany's interior ministry plans to force telecoms operators to slash the use of equipment from Huawei and ZTE in their 5G networks after a review highlighted an over-reliance on these Chinese suppliers. Reporting by Hakan Ersen; writing by Matthias Williams; editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nacho, Hakan Ersen, Matthias Williams, Rachel More Organizations: Deutsche Telekom, Congress, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei, ZTE, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Germany

☆ Telefonica may seek damages in event of Huawei curbs in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Spanish Telecom company Telefonica is seen during GSMA's 2022 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 28, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Telefonica Deutschland (O2Dn.DE) on Wednesday said it would consider seeking damages from the German government as well as legal action if Berlin imposed restrictions on using China's Huawei (HWT.UL) that meant retrospective changes to its network. In a statement to Reuters, Telefonica Deutschland said it was in regular contact with the German authorities and stressed the need for consistency in planning for the security of communications infrastructure. Earlier a government official said Germany's interior ministry plans to force telecoms operators to slash the use of equipment from Huawei and ZTE in their 5G networks after a review highlighted an over-reliance on these Chinese suppliers. Reporting by Hakan Ersen; writing by Matthias Williams; editing by Friederike HeineOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nacho, Hakan Ersen, Matthias Williams, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: Spanish Telecom, Telefonica, Congress, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica Deutschland, Huawei, Reuters, ZTE, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Berlin

☆ German regulator is contact with France on Europe-wide solution over Apple iPhone 12 issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

An Apple iPhone 12 is pictured in a mobile phone store in Nantes, France, Sept. 13, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Germany's telecom network regulator said on Friday it was in touch with French authorities about a Europe-wide solution to radiation concerns with Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhone 12 which prompted France to halt sales of the model this week. The comment came after Apple said it would issue a software update for iPhone 12 users in France to settle the matter. The regulator did not give further detail or say if a solution for the bloc would include a software upgrade. Reporting by Hakan Ersen in Frankfurt; writing by Josephine Mason; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Apple, Hakan Ersen, Josephine Mason, Jason Neely Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France, Europe, Frankfurt

☆ Vodafone boosted by 1&1 5G network deal in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The headquarters of Vodafone Germany are pictured in Duesseldorf September 12, 2013. Shares in British company Vodafone rose 3% in London and 1&1 (1U1.DE) soared 15%, set for its biggest one-day gain since 2008. 1&1, the mobile phone operation of German internet provider United Internet (UTDI.DE), is building a fourth mobile network. The deal knocked shares in Telefonica Deutschland (O2Dn.DE), as 1&1 teamed up with its competitor Vodafone. Vodafone said in its statement on Wednesday that the commercial agreement with 1&1 was for 18 years, and would start to deliver the 5G coverage to 1&1 customers from the second half of 2024.

Persons: Ina Fassbender, Margherita Della Valle, Sarah Young, Danilo Masoni, Hakan Ersen Organizations: Vodafone, REUTERS, United, Telefonica Deutschland, Telefonica, Thomson Locations: Vodafone Germany, Germany, London, Telefonica Deutschland's, Madrid

That followed the U.S. decision to impose export restrictions to curb China's access to key technologies used for artificial intelligence (AI). China has been the go-to for companies because it is able to export processed minerals at a lower cost than other countries. In Taiwan, a senior government official said China's restrictions on exports of gallium and germanium marked "a new wave of retaliation" in a "tit-for-tat approach." Some industry watchers believed China's metals restrictions could trigger short-term supply snags and higher prices. But Navitas Semiconductor Corp (NVTS.O), which makes chips that use a substance called gallium nitride, on Wednesday said it expects no adverse effects to its business from China's export controls.

Persons: China's, Stewart Randall, Janet Yellen, Roy Lee, John Strand, Supantha Mukherjee, Hakan Ersen, Ben Blanchard, Brenda Goh, Kanishka Singh, Anne Marie Roantree, David Gaffen, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . Department of Commerce, EV, Sweden's Ericsson, Ericsson, U.S, Treasury, Navitas Semiconductor Corp, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, STOCKHOLM, WASHINGTON, Beijing, U.S, China, United States, Shanghai, Intralink, Netherlands, Australia, Europe, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Korea, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Taipei, Washington

☆ German industry urges reduced dependency after China export controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Chinese export restrictions "illustrate the urgency for Europe and Germany to quickly reduce their dependency on critical raw materials now," said Wolfgang Niedermark, a member of the BDI German industrial association. In a position paper, the group said that Germany's and Europe's dependency on mineral raw materials such as rare earths from China was "already greater than that of oil and natural gas from Russia". Another German industry group, Bitkom, called for steps to massively increase Germany and Europe's digital sovereignty . Last week, European Union member states adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act, a centrepiece of the EU strategy to ensure industry can compete with the United States and China. The BDI's Niedermark said that agreement to recycle and process raw materials sent an important signal but called for a similar push to establish domestic mining in Europe.

Persons: Wolfgang Niedermark, Bernhard Rohleder, Niedermark, Rachel More, Hakan Ersen, Madeline Chambers, Miranda Murray, Emelia Organizations: Union, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Europe, China, Germany, Russia, Berlin, Ukraine, Beijing, United States

☆ German alternative Mastodon gets boost from newly restricted Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, July 3 (Reuters) - Turmoil at Twitter following new limits to the amount of posts users can see appears to be driving a surge in activity at Mastodon, a German rival that prides itself on its decentralised, user-driven structure. "Looks like Mastodon's active user base has increased by 110K (110,000) over the last day. Not bad," Eugen Rochko, creator and chief executive of Mastodon, wrote on the platform late on Sunday. "I would prefer it if Elon Musk was destroying his site during the work week. On Saturday, Twitter boss Elon Musk announced new limits on the number of posts accounts can read in a day.

Persons: Eugen Rochko, Elon Musk, Musk, Hakan Ersen, Rachel More, Miranda Murray Organizations: Twitter, Mastodon, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, German

A director at the nonprofit Foxglove, which has helped organise a content moderators' campaign over their work conditions, described the move as "outrageous bullying". Following his appearance, trade union Verdi said Haksöz had been placed on a paid leave of absence pending an internal investigation. Meta and other social media companies have faced criticism over the working conditions of content moderators who aim to keep their platforms free from harmful material. In 2020, the firm paid a $52 million settlement to American content moderators suffering long-term mental health issues. "Cengiz was invited to testify to the German parliament about the dangerous working conditions on social media’s factory floor.

Persons: Verdi, Cengiz, Haksöz, Cengiz Haksöz, Christoph Schmitz, Schmitz, Martha Dark, Martin Coulter, Hakan Ersen, Hugh Lawson Organizations: TELUS International, Digital, TELUS, Facebook, Reuters, Haksöz, Meta, Thomson Locations: Germany

☆ Chinese delegation to meet with Germany's top corporate brass next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FRANKFURT/BERLIN, June 16 (Reuters) - A Chinese delegation led by Premier Li Qiang will meet Germany's top CEOs next week as part of a visit to Europe, hoping to strengthen ties at a time when Berlin is pursuing a strategy to lessen its economic dependence on Beijing. A meeting between Li and a group of German and Chinese CEOs is scheduled for June 19, according to people familiar with the plans. Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE), SAP (SAPG.DE) and Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) all confirmed that their CEOs would meet with the delegation. The CEO of Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) division Audi will also participate, a person familiar with the matter said. BASF (BASFn.DE), Bayer (BAYGn.DE), Infineon (IFXGn.DE), Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE), all companies with major business ties to China, declined to comment.

Persons: Premier Li Qiang, Li, Li Shufu, Mercedes, Roland Busch, Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, Andrew Small, Marshall, Siegfried Russwurm, Ilona Wissenbach, Hakan Ersen, Christoph Steitz, Ludwig Burger, Patricia Weiss, Christina Amann, Andreas Rinke, Rene Wagner, Sarah Marsh, Jan Schwartz, Alexander Huebner, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Louise Heavens Organizations: Premier, Mercedes, Benz, SAP, Siemens Energy, Volkswagen, Audi, Beijing Automotive Group Co, HK, Siemens, Pacific Committee, BASF, Bayer, Infineon, BMW, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, BERLIN, Europe, Berlin, Beijing, China, Asia, German, Germany, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich

June 14 (Reuters) - Hundreds of social media moderators in Germany – who remove harmful content from platforms such as Facebook and TikTok – are calling on lawmakers to improve their working conditions, citing tough targets and mental health issues. Meta has faced mounting pressure over the working conditions of content moderators keeping its platform safe. In 2020, the firm paid a $52 million settlement to American content moderators suffering long-term mental health. "Without us, social media companies would collapse overnight," reads the petition, seen by Reuters. "Social media can never be safe until our own workplaces are safe and fair."

Persons: Germany –, Cengiz Haksöz, Haksöz, Meta, Martin Coulter, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Facebook, TELUS International, Digital, TELUS, Social, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Germany

☆ Silver Lake reiterates offer in battle for Software AG takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, May 10 (Reuters) - Silver Lake appeared unshaken in the battle to acquire Software AG (SOWGn.DE) on Wednesday, reiterating in a statement its offer of 32 euros ($35.23) per share for the German company. Rival Bain Capital via its portfolio firm Rocket Software has offered up to 36 euros per share for Software AG. "Silver Lake reiterates its conviction in the attractiveness of its previously announced offer of EUR 32.00 per share of Software AG, to whose stated strategy and whose status as an independent, Darmstadt-based company Silver Lake remains fully committed," Silver Lake said in a statement. Software AG said on Tuesday night that Silver Lake's offer presented a high degree of transaction security in addition to a significant premium for shareholders. ($1 = 0.9084 euros)Reporting by Hakan Ersen, Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Deutsche Boerse posts stronger-than-expected Q1 profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, April 26 (Reuters) - German exchange operator Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) on Wednesday said it posted a 12% rise in first-quarter net profit, a better result than analysts had expected, and that it may exceed its forecasts for 2023. Net profit attributable to shareholders was 473 million euros ($522.05 million), up from 421 million euros a year ago, the company said. Analysts had expected a profit increase of nearly 10% and a revenue increase of almost 14%. Deutsche Boerse was rosy on its outlook, saying that 2023 earnings would be at the upper end of its projected forecasts or "even slightly exceed it." Those forecasts are for full-year revenue of 4.5 billion-4.7 billion euros and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of 2.6 billion-2.8 billion euros.

☆ Siemens investigating report employee worked for Russian hacking firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ZURICH, March 31 (Reuters) - Siemens (SIEGn.DE) has launched an investigation after Der Spiegel reported a former programmer from Russian IT company NTC Vulkan - which has reported links to Russian security services - worked for the German engineering and tech company. Der Spiegel reported on Friday that more than 90 former staff from NTC Vulkan worked for a several other European companies. The magazine said NTC Vulkan maintains close ties to all three major Russian intelligence services: FSB, GRU and SWR. Its so-called "Vulkan Files" said the company builds cyber programmes for the security services aimed at attacking critical infrastructure facilities. NTC Vulkan did not respond to requests for comment.

☆ How Silicon Valley Bank's collapse ripped through global tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

March 14 (Reuters) - Not long after California startups started pulling money out of troubled Silicon Valley Bank, entrepreneurs in other parts of the world woke up to the news. While the global effects of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse are just emerging, one thing is clear: tech startups, no matter how far apart, are intertwined. FOUNDERS WARYQuincy Lee, founder of Seattle-based EV charging startup Electra Era, tried to move millions of dollars from Silicon Valley Bank on Thursday afternoon as warning signs multiplied. European stocks fell on banking industry concerns, though, and even startups that did not bank with SVB were scrambling. CHINESE STARTUPS MOVING MONEYSVB's Shanghai-based joint venture, SPD Silicon Valley Bank (SSVB), said it had a sound corporate structure and an independent balance sheet.

"But after years of dithering, the German 5G network is deeply dependent on Chinese suppliers. Huawei, ZTE and China's government reject these claims, saying that they are motivated by a protectionist desire to support non-Chinese rivals. GERMANY LAGGINGWhile several countries across Europe are still formulating telecom policies, only Britain and Sweden have so far banned Huawei and ZTE from supplying critical 5G network equipment. The German government was last month unable to answer a parliamentary request about how many Huawei components operators were using in their 5G networks, filed in part in response to the report. The deadline to remove all Huawei gear from Britain's 5G networks by the end of 2027 remains unchanged.

"His deep understanding of our customers' needs, and the broader industry make him an ideal candidate for Chairman of the Supervisory Board from 2024 onwards," Plattner added. Plattner, who co-founded SAP in 1972 alongside four other former IBM employees, stepped down from active management in May 2003 to head the supervisory board after serving as SAP's CEO since 1997. He owns a 6.16% stake in SAP which is currently worth 8.23 billion euros ($8.73 billion), and said he would remain committed to the company as an "investor with an unchanged stake". SAP, in a separate statement, said it would propose a dividend of 2.05 euros per share for 2022. The company paid 2.45 euros a share for the previous year, which included a 0.50 euros apiece special dividend.

☆ SAP names ex Deloitte CEO as designated chairman to succeed co-founder Plattner
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Feb 22 (Reuters) - SAP (SAPG.DE) on Wednesday named former Deloitte global CEO Punit Renjen as designated chairman to succeed co-founder Hasso Plattner, whose term will expire in May 2024. SAP's board nominated Renjen, global CEO of Deloitte from 2015 until the end of 2022, to stand for election as a new member of the supervisory the board, the statement said. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee in Berlin and Hakan Ersen in Frankfurt; Editing by Christoph SteitzOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Online fashion retailer Zalando to cut hundreds of jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Feb 21 (Reuters) - German online fashion retailer Zalando (ZALG.DE) is to cut hundreds of jobs across the company, citing over-expansion in some areas and a more difficult economic environment since the coronavirus pandemic. Zalando said the pandemic had boosted business in 2020 and 2021, but these tailwinds had faded since 2022 and the macroeconomic environment had become more challenging. Zalando, which has a workforce of some 17,000, did not give precise details on which areas would be affected by the cuts. The planned job cuts were first reported by the Financial Times, which said the online retailer's workforce would shrink by up to 5%. The company is due to report full-year earnings next month.

[1/2] A trader works at the Frankfurt stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, February 22, 2022. REUTERS/Timm Reichert/File PhotoBERLIN/LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - German web hosting firm IONOS is targeting a market capitalisation of up to 3.15 billion euros ($3.42 billion) in Europe's first major initial public offering (IPO) since sports car maker Porsche last September. Subject to regulatory approval of the IPO prospectus, the offer is expected to run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 7. IPO investors are typically offered a discount to a peer group in compensation for the risk of buying a new stock. Montabaur-based IONOS offers web hosting services and cloud applications to consumers and SMEs in countries including the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Spain and Poland.

BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - United Internet (UTDI.DE) subsidiary Ionos said on Tuesday it would undertake a prime standard listing of its shares this quarter on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, as the web hosting company readies for an initial public offering (IPO). The offered shares are expected to come from the holdings of the subsidiary's two existing shareholders, United Internet and Warburg Pincus, with United Internet to retain a majority stake after the IPO, Ionos said. United Internet shares were up 1.8% to 22.23 euros in early Frankfurt trading. The intention to float document did not provide details on the target issue price or the number of shares to be offered. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that Ionos could achieve a valuation of 5 billion euros ($5.42 billion) in a stake sale.

HALF MOON BAY, Calif/FRANKFURT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. chip giant Intel Corp (INTC.O) is committed to building its chip fabrication plant, or fab, in Magdeburg, Germany and is working out funding details with the government, according to Chief Global Operations Officer Keyvan Esfarjani. “We are committed to making the Magdeburg project successful,” Esfarjani told Reuters on the sidelines of Industry Strategy Symposium, a chip conference by Semi last week in Half Moon Bay, California. When asked about Intel's investment, Germany's economy ministry's spokesperson told Reuters the government was in "constant exchange with Intel and the European Commission" about the project. In March Intel announced Magdeburg as the site for its new mega chip manufacturing complex, a key part of its $88 billion investment drive across Europe. Last week Italy's government also reiterated that it was determined to secure and investment by Intel.

☆ United Internet's Ionos wants to start IPO process this month - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - United Internet (UTDI.DE) subsidiary Ionos wants to begin the process for an initial public offering (IPO) this month, a financial source told Reuters on Friday. A valuation of 5 billion euros ($5.42 billion) for Ionos is realistic, said a source. Ionos declined to comment. ($1 = 0.9229 euros)Reporting by Alexander Huebner und Hakan Ersen, Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rewe drops ads with German soccer association over armbands row
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Major grocery chain Rewe has scrapped its advertising campaign with the German Football Association after soccer's global governing body cracked down on players wearing 'OneLove' armbands in support of diversity at the Qatar World Cup. Several soccer associations had said that their team captains would wear the armband in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. The German Football Association said on Tuesday associations backing the armband were faced with "extreme blackmail," and it had dropped plans for players to wear it because it was unfair for them to shoulder the consequences. Separately, Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) on Tuesday said it planned to talk with the German Football Association about the armbands controversy. The German Football Association (DFB) is the world's largest, with more than 7 million active members.

☆ Investors switch into Porsche AG from Volkswagen on debut day
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Danilo Masoni | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Porsche AG shares rallied on their Frankfurt market debut on Thursday as traders dumped holdings of its controlling companies to grab a slice in the newly listed supercar manufacturer. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"There seem to be shifts from Volkswagen into Porsche AG," said Jochen Stanzl, analyst at online broker CMC Markets. Porsche AG shares traded at a premium of as much as 5.2% to their IPO price of 82.5 euros at one point. Shares in top shareholders Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and Porsche Automobil Holding SE (PSHG_p.DE) were last down 5% and 8% respectively. Porsche AG was by far the most traded stock by volume on Thursday on Lang & Schwartz's platform, indicating interest from individual investors, too.

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