Breton's Elon Musk regulatory troll earns one of the most epic ratios of all time

In August, the EU Commissioner Thierry Breton sent a viral letter to Elon Musk on social platform X, reminding him to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires online platforms to remove illegal content and be transparent about their algorithms. The letter sparked debates about whether the EU is overreaching in its attempt to control global digital platforms. Read Yaël Ossowski's take on the Musk - Breton debate here.

Tech-related ideas in von der Leyen’s political guidelines 2024-2029

The outline for the next European Commission's agenda - "Europe's Choice: Political Guidelines for the European Union 2024-2029" - combines ideas from past Commission's work, Enrico Letta's report, and priorities of European businesses. Despite calls from industry and public administrations to focus on implementation rather than new regulations, the guidelines suggest more changes ahead. The EU's influence could drive essential changes in areas like public procurement and academic innovation, but there's concern these issues are being sidelined for election purposes. Instead of fixating on US competition, Europe could excel by focusing on its unique strengths. Read Egle Markeviciute's thoughts here.

How the EU's Data Protection Authorities handle GDPR application

The European Commission's recent GDPR implementation report reveals challenges, including funding shortages for national data protection authorities (DPAs) and a lack of specialists, leading to lengthy complaint resolution times in most EU countries. Concerns about restrictive interpretations of GDPR remain, potentially impacting media freedom and the development of European digital economy. EU Member States DPAs vary in their approaches: while some prioritize fast resolution and minimal fines, others are known for high complaint turnover with substantial penalties. Read more about the challenges with GDPR application in the EU here.

Digital citizenship to kick off in Hungary – Chinese or Estonian style?

Hungary's push toward digital citizenship, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, aims to centralize and digitize citizens' personal information, raising significant concerns about privacy and state control. The Hungarian government's plans for digital citizenship have sparked fears of increased surveillance and potential misuse of data, especially given Hungary's political climate. Some worry that Hungary could adopt a Chinese-style surveillance state, which is likely, given Hungary's close ties with China. Zoltàn Kész, a former Hungarian MP shares his thoughts on Hungarian digital citizenship here.

The EU’s revised Consumer Credit Directive leaves European consumers with fewer choices and more financial struggles

The EU's revised Consumer Credit Directive, which reclassifies interest-free offers like "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) as consumer loans, imposes new regulations that could limit competition and consumer choice. By requiring extensive pre-contractual information and creditworthiness checks, the directive could exclude younger consumers with low credit scores from accessing credit, potentially worsening their financial situation. Read Emil Panzaru's analysis on the changes awaiting European citizens here.