Privacy

A collection of 25 posts

Privacy Featured

Protecting minors online in the EU: hard rules for platforms, soft expectations for parents

As global policymakers rush to regulate online child safety, the focus remains on platform accountability, design, and age-verification solutions. Yet major gaps persist: technical bypasses, data privacy risks, and the missing element of shared parental responsibility.

Data Featured

EU orders Google to share search data with third-parties

The EU has ordered Google to share its search data with rivals by January 2027 under the DMA. But as concerns grow over data privacy and loopholes, a new survey reveals that 71% of Europeans have no idea their data will be shared.

Privacy Featured

Orwellian outcomes: Chat Control 1.0 adopted by the EP

Orwellian outcomes at the EP: procedural loopholes made the European Parliament adopt Chat Control 1.0, extending mass communication scanning until 2028.

Privacy

Double threat to privacy: Chat Control 1.0 and 2.0 are back

With Chat Control 2.0 still in negotiations, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola has proposed reviving the expired Chat Control 1.0. The move triggers a double threat to encryption ahead of crucial June 29 trilogue talks, sparking fierce backlash from privacy advocates

News Featured

Two thirds of European teenagers do not feel "stressed, sad, or socially excluded" because of social media?

Eurobarometer stats challenge political alarmism over teen social media use: 2/3 don't feel stressed, sad, or excluded; 55% don't compare themselves to others; and 75% haven't encountered problematic content like hate speech online.

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.

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

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.

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.

Privacy Featured

Old wine in new bottles: Denmark strong-arms the EU on Chat Control

Despite fierce criticism from privacy advocates, EU governments have backed a "compromise” Chat Control deal that still paves the way for mass scanning of encrypted messages and de facto digital ID checks for all users.

Privacy Featured

Time to talk about encryption (again)

Consumer Choice Center Europe has joined a global statement defending strong encryption, warning that efforts to fight online crime must not weaken secure communication or end-to-end encryption as the EU debates the controversial Chat Control proposal.

Privacy Featured

A dangerous new proposal for Chat Control

Denmark’s EU Presidency has released a new, 203-page draft for Chat Control. Despite diplomatic tweaks, vague “risk mitigation” obligations could still require scanning of private messages, including those encrypted.

Data Featured

Between the lines: GDPR in the EU Data Strategy Union consultation

DG Connect’s recap of the EU Data Strategy consultation brings few surprises: Western Europe led participation, Europeans are more active in providing unique feedback, and 25% want the GDPR reviewed.

Privacy Featured

New Danish proposal for Chat Control: three fat problems remain

Denmark’s update to the EU “chat control” plan shifts to “voluntary” scanning, but ex-MEP Patrick Breyer warns it still sidesteps Parliament’s court-order safeguard, would ban under-16s from messaging apps, and could effectively end anonymous communication.

Privacy Featured

Chat Control on hold, Europe's Eastern flank remains passive

Germany’s withdrawal freezes CSAR, yet the EU’s eastern flank remains passive, signaling a deeper malaise: inefficient interministerial cooperation, capital–PermRep disconnects, and a habit of sidelining digital policy.

Privacy Featured

EU consultation on digital rules: time to think outside the box

The EU’s Digital Omnibus consultation is open until Oct 14, 2025, aiming to simplify data, AI, and cybersecurity compliance. But without tackling the GDPR reform, the elephant in the room remains.

Cybersecurity Featured

Time is running out for EU Member States to decide on Chat Control

With just a few days left before the Council is due to take a vote on the controversial proposal, both the public pressure and cross-party outcry may pose a unique challenge to Brussels' usual choreographed votes on long-debated legislation.

Privacy Featured

Children, age verification and the future of VPNs in Europe

As the EU reviews cybersecurity and privacy laws, VPNs may face new child-protection and age-verification rules. While uncertain, the UK’s messy experience could push the EU toward measures that risk undermining privacy.

Privacy Featured

Return of Chat Control: something is rotten in the state of Denmark

The Scandinavian state has been a stalwart supporter of CSAM scanning and chat control. Now, they hold the keys to make it a reality.

Privacy Featured

Hungarian digital citizenship: software provided by Orban’s son-in-law?

Hungary’s digital ID system is under fire after it was revealed that its facial recognition tech is linked to PM Orbán’s son-in-law. Critics warn of surveillance risks, especially amid new laws allowing facial ID at protests and concerns over political misuse.

Privacy Featured

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

Digital citizenship in Hungary has become a pressing issue as the government pursues initiatives to centralize and digitize citizens' personal information.

Featured

4 reasons why we can’t have #ChatControl in the EU

The EU Council's vote on CSAM / ChatControl has been postponed to Thursday, June 20th. The proposals, aimed at combating children’s sexual exploitation and abuse online, are problematic from a privacy, value, and technical perspective.

Featured

Unmasking the plan to restrict encryption and private messaging in Europe

Can European law enforcement agencies force messaging services to crack open the contents of their users' communications to scan for and retain illegal material?