Weekend Reads: 18 October 2026

This week’s reads cover a supermarket hack that puts a new Dutch cybersecurity law to the test, a contested server seizure in Amsterdam and a choice between two premium headphones. Further afield, Meta and TikTok made decisions that affect what you read and watch online.

Local

Albert Heijn hack is an early test of the new cyber law

The hack at Albert Heijn is one of the first major incidents since a new Dutch cybersecurity law took effect in August. The law applies to thousands of government bodies and companies considered important to the Netherlands, including healthcare, drinking water, banks and the food sector, which covers supermarkets. These organisations must report serious cyberattacks, and their directors can be held personally liable if security is not in order. Responsibility for cybersecurity now reaches the boardroom.

Source: NOS

Amsterdam police seize a server at US request

Amsterdam police seized a server this week that may be shared with American authorities. The report describes it as an “Antifa server”. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) says police were allowed to take it, but the secrecy around the US request has raised questions and concerns. For anyone who stores data with Dutch hosting providers, the case shows how a foreign request can reach servers here.

Source: NU.nl

Two premium headphones, two different strengths

Tweakers put the Sennheiser HDB 630 and the Sony WH-1000X The Collexion side by side. Both are expensive Bluetooth headphones aimed at critical listeners, and the review asks whether better sound or stronger noise cancelling should decide your purchase. If you are about to spend serious money on a pair, it is worth reading in full first.

Source: Tweakers

A Facebook film asks whether Meta has changed

In his weekly Schermtijd column, NU.nl tech reporter Rutger Otto looks at a tense new film about the “Facebook Files”. So far the film has had little impact, and that raises an uncomfortable question: has anything really changed at Meta?

Source: NU.nl

Also in Europe

Meta drops wording on scraping and AI training

Meta has removed language from its terms that had raised concerns about web scraping and the use of data for AI training. A spokesperson insisted the updated terms did not mean any change in how Meta crawls the web.

Source: TechCrunch

TikTok shuts out the Musk documentary

Just before its wider release, TikTok banned the official account of Alex Gibney’s documentary about Musk. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s distributor, Bleecker Street, was told on Friday afternoon that a “permanent suspension” was imminent. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Source: The Verge

Weekend Reads is a curated weekend digest: we summarise and link, the reporting belongs to the publications named. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.