Five stories not to miss

1 Facebook sues over appmakers’ data profits

Facebook has sued a South Korean developer it accuses of misusing personal data. After a discovery that echoed the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook sued Rankwave, claiming the company “used the Facebook data associated with its apps to create and sell advertising and marketing analytics and models.”

2 Spy chiefs dust down UK’s espionage bill

Home Office officials are putting together a new espionage bill that gives the security services stronger powers to hunt down online spies – but could also criminalise whistleblowers who expose classified information. Officials claim the bill will “update our Official Secrets Acts for the 21st century”; plans lean on a 2015 Law Commission consultation, which will be published this autumn.

3 Sony leaps onto Microsoft’s cloud

Console rivals Microsoft and Sony will collaborate on Azure projects to support their game and content-streaming services. After years of fierce rivalry, the announcement suggests that both companies fear competition from Google, which unveiled its own Stadia cloud gaming platform earlier this year.

4 EE pips Vodafone to post with 5G launch

EE has brought 5G mobile data services online in six cities – London, Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester – and promises to extend coverage to 11 more areas by the end of the year. It’s the UK’s first 5G carrier, stealing a march on Vodafone, which plans to switch on 5G networks in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London in early July.

5 Ofcom gaff gifts £220m windfall to mobile giants

Vodafone, O2, Three and EE have won a shared £220m payout – subject to appeal – after a court found that Ofcom had acted illegally in 2015 when it hiked up the cost of radio spectrum access nearly fourfold. Whether the money is used to improve coverage, as was suggested during the case, remains to be seen.