AI Featured

Why European businesses are not using AI tools

Eurostat's 2025 data show that a lack of technical expertise, data privacy concerns, and legal uncertainty remain the main barriers to the use of AI tools among European businesses, even as most companies recognize AI’s potential value.

Privacy Featured

The EU’s plan to tackle “cookie fatigue”

The EU wants to reduce “cookie fatigue” through browser-level consent rules that promise fewer banners and more transparency. Critics warn the proposal could create new gatekeepers, weaken personalised advertising, and increase costs for European businesses.

Cybersecurity Featured

The EU’s age-verification dilemma: DSA and VPNs

While political agreement on online age verification has not been reached, the EU is now focusing on the technical implementation layer instead. This approach could backfire from both a technical standpoint and in terms of political optics.

AI Featured

Imperfect AI Omnibus arrives - all eyes turn to Digital Omnibus

The EU’s AI Omnibus is finally here, but some criticize it for a lack of ambition. While the EU must still formally approve the AI Omnibus, focus now shifts to the second leg of the EU’s digital simplification efforts: the Digital Omnibus package, which is crucial for AI development and data.

DMA Featured

Europe’s tech referee grades its own homework

The European Commission just gave itself a positive review on the DMA, but Dirk Auer of the ICLE argues this self-grading ignores the DMA’s real costs: broken features, delayed AI, and a decline in European competitiveness. Is the "tech referee" grading its own homework too generously?

DMA Featured

Consumer concerns over EU DMA proposals for Google

EU DMA proposals could force Google to share sensitive search data with third parties in ways that may weaken privacy, cybersecurity, and consumer choice. As debate grows, the real question is whether competition can be increased without putting European users at risk.

AI Featured

Can Europe keep its industrial champions in the AI era?

Siemens warned that EU regulations are driving industrial giants toward the US and China. As the "Trump Effect" lures factories away with tax cuts and deregulation, Europe faces a high-stakes choice regarding data rules and the chip dilemma of speed vs. sovereignty.

Data Featured

The EU's age verification app launched: technically ready, legally awkward?

The European Commission launched an age verification app this week. This is likely to serve as a start for a broader legislative initiative to legalise age-verification and subsequent restrictions on minors.

Best practices Featured

Empowering children online: the CoE is skeptical of blanket social media bans

As politicians rush to impose blanket social media bans on minors, recent Council of Europe recommendations urge a smarter approach. They stress that online safety measures must protect children without sacrificing their freedom of expression or cutting off essential digital access

Data Featured

The EU’s roadworthiness package risks reversing course on open data

While the EU works to simplify data rules and boost Europe’s data economy, the incoming Roadworthiness Package may restrict vehicle data sharing to public authorities only - potentially shutting out private European companies and weakening consumer choice.

Privacy Featured

€500 billion-worth European data economy troubles continue

As AI grabs the spotlight, Europe’s data economy still powers billions in value, yet fragmented GDPR enforcement continues to hold innovators back. The Digital Omnibus was meant to help, but the EU now risks retreating from even modest reform.

DMA Featured

Is the DMA a chicken or a duck? Why the DMA predestinates European companies and consumers to lose

“If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.” The DMA looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck — yet many insist it is a chicken.

Innovation Featured

Regulatory roadblocks for commercial use of drones in Europe

While drones are driving innovation across industries, European agriculture still lags in unlocking their full potential - not for lack of promise, but because regulation keeps that innovation grounded.

News Featured

Digital services taxes begin driving up consumer prices for ads

Although Brussels often overlooks how new taxes and regulations are passed on to consumers, the impact is already becoming clear: Meta advertisers have been told that “location fees” of 2% to 5% will apply in several European countries, with rates subject to change.

News Featured

Taxpayer-funded European social media platform?

A group of activists want the EU Commission to help build a “society-funded” European social network. The Commission has now registered a Citizens’ Initiative, triggering up to 18-month, 1-million-signature push, while questions remain on cost, procurement, and timeline.

Privacy Featured

Scientists urge moratorium on teen social media age verification

405 scientists from 30 countries warn teen social-media bans and age checks can backfire. In a Monday statement, they urge a moratorium until evidence is clearer, citing easy circumvention, migration to risky fringe sites, and years-long infrastructure hurdles.

Global Featured

American rights to free speech vs. European rights to set their own rules

Europeans and Americans talk past each other while rivals watch. The EU can set its own standards, but in an interconnected economy, decoupling fantasies and grandstanding won’t help.

Connectivity Featured

Sovereign solutions for me, but not for thee: 5G version

The Commission’s revised Cybersecurity Act may face resistance from China-friendly Member States and telecom operators, who warn of high compliance and vendor-switch costs and seek public reimbursement.

Data Featured

Why TikTok’s DSA investigation is important

Last week the European Commission preliminarily found TikTok may breach the DSA over “addictive design” (infinite scroll, autoplay, push alerts, personalised feeds). If upheld, it could mean a fine up to 6% of global turnover.

Connectivity Featured

Cold (space) war: why the US and the EU are still in the same boat

Ukraine and SpaceX announced they have found a way to prevent Russian armed forces from using Starlink, while Russian propagandists reacted harshly - not only toward SpaceX, but toward Palantir too. Meanwhile, communications from two European satellites were intercepted by Russian spacecraft.

Wiser Regulation Featured

Better regulation: speed should not become a substitute for transparency

On February 4, the Commission closed its Better Regulation consultation: most of the 286 respondents urged keeping impact assessments and consultation tools strong.

Connectivity Featured

Confusing messaging on potential network fees at the ITRE committee

At ITRE, EVP Henna Virkkunen pitched the Digital Networks Act. The DNA's Articles 191–193 revive fears of de facto network fees, and S&D’s Mattias Ecke pressed for safeguards. The Commission offered little clarity and hinted it could later “revise” the mechanism.

AI Featured

Estonian ambition to leverage AI: 50% GDP increase by 2035

Estonia just launched eesti.AI project, targeting +25% GDP by 2030 and +50% by 2035, by pairing AI with its digital-state know-how and public-private partnerships to deliver scalable AI applications .

Wiser Regulation Featured

Italo-German competitiveness to-do list for Europe

Merz and Meloni’s updated Italo-German Plan of Action doubles down on legislative self-restraint, simplification, and better regulation. The real test now is the Omnibus push and a Better Regulation reform.

Connectivity Featured

Digital Networks Act: backdoors for network fees and more

The Commission’s draft Digital Networks Act would replace the 2018 EECC and reopen old fights: less national control over spectrum, a costly copper switch-off by 2035, and a “voluntary” conciliation backdoor that could revive de facto network fees.