The unintended costs of Germany’s new streaming quota
Germany's proposed streaming quota risks harming consumers, stifling competition, sparking international trade tensions, and increasing the cinema industry's dependence on political whim.
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The platforms that run on tech infrastructure.
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European regulators are quietly green-lighting Tesla’s self-driving technology
Tesla's self-driving technology is getting unlocked in Europe, one capital at a time.
The EU’s DMA: fines, delayed features and unclear benefits
Apple’s Siri AI delay has turned the DMA from a Brussels bubble debate into a consumer issue: the DMA is meant to ensure a fair market, but what are the measurable benefits for consumers and founders?
EU tech sovereignty: internal divides
The EU’s tech sovereignty plans are moving forward, but foundational debates persist.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Analysis of EU innovation, consumer and tech policy