EU to extend some telco rules to web companies

Brussels

THE European Union is set to extend some security rules currently only applicable to telecom operators to web services such as WhatsApp, Skype and Apple Inc's FaceTime, according to a draft proposal seen by Reuters.

The European Commission, the EU executive, will unveil a proposed reform of its 15-year-old telecom rules this week in which it will extend some provisions to web companies offering calls and messages over the Internet, so-called "over the top players".