Trumpโs FCC chair Brendan Carr may shape tech regulatory clash with EU
The FCC chairman has spoken as both friend and foe of EU tech regulation.
Digital Services Act (DSA)
Performative DSA risk assessments and AVMSD updates
57 MEPs from five political groups are urging the Commission to defend the Audiovisual Media Services Directive against the US.
Platforms under fire for โperformativeโ DSA risk reports
Platforms fails to assess and address actual harms and negative effects on its functioning, a new civil society-led analysis has argued.
Belgian police target Huawei, European Starlink alternatives, DSA systemic risks
Around 15 current and former MEPs are suspected of taking bribes from the Chinese firm Huawei.
Commission organises DSA workshops on systemic risks
Article 34 and 35 require very large platforms to carry out risk assessment and mitigation measures under the DSA.
Greece introduces โKids Walletโ to urge EU action on child protection
The government calls for a European-wide โdigital age of majorityโ at 15.
Big Tech acts on child protection to preempt regulation
The kids will be alright, according to big tech’s new rollouts on protecting minors online.
Who is Jim Jordan, and what is his problem with Europe?
Jordanโs arch-conservative instincts โ and his background as an undefeated wrestler in his youth โ go some way to explaining his contempt for EU tech regulation.
Meta to protect European celebrities, GDPR at CEPS
And a short recap of Trump’s speech to Congress
Musk attempts to undermine Romanian pre-election disinformation roundtable
One NGO labelled Musk’s remarks as an “intimidation campaign”.
Virkkunen silent against American attack
And old wine in new bottles so far at the CEPS Ideas Lab.
The week ahead in Tech, audiovisuals, and child protection
The Commission curried favour in India, but US tensions deepen.
Council wants clarity for video-sharing platforms and influencers
The latest draft Council conclusions on audiovisual content are ready ahead of the next round of discussions on 3 March.
MAGA on a writing spree to protect tech from โcensorshipโ
The Committee is concerned about the proliferation of foreign censorship laws, regulations and court orders that threaten Americans’ right to speak freely online, such as the EU’s Digital Services Act, the letter said.
Microsoft Europeโs newest ally against US chip export controls
Plus Indiastack, MAGA chat, and a plea for Greenlandic sovereignty.
Shein requests DSA extension
The Commission decided to grant the request, saying that “Shein is very cooperative with the investigation”.
EU lawmakers talk tech with MAGA in DC
IMCO Chair Anna Cavazzini told Euractiv that the US representatives were open to “better understanding the DMA.”
Commission responds to White House tariff threats on EU tech laws
”If needed, the EU will respond swiftly and decisively to defend its rights and regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures,” said the Commission.
Trump threatens to launch tariff attack on EU tech regulation
White House: ”Regulations that dictate how American companies interact with consumers in the European Union, like the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, will face scrutiny from the Administration.”
Hate-speech failures by Meta and X undermine German election
The ads contained calls for the imprisonment and gassing of immigrants, burning of mosques with dehumanising speech, and equated immigrants to animals and pathogens.
Cavazzini: IMCO will have its hands full with e-commerce, enforcement issues
Euractiv sat down with MEP Anna Cavazzini, who has chaired the IMCO Committee in the Parliament since 2019, to speak about e-commerce goods and digital priorities this mandate.
Euractiv owner sues X in Ireland
Mediahuis Ireland stated that it was ”forced to initiate proceedings” against X.
Parliament wonโt let AI Liability, SEPs, go without a fight
And plans to streamline the future of cyber reporting.
Porn platforms report EU user collapse, may dodge DSA scrutiny
Three out of the four VLOPs have filed monthly users below 45 million users in the EU
X challenging Berlin Courtโs DSA decision
”X is committed to defending these [fundamental rights to due process] through the legal system and will not back down in the face of justice”, the platform posted today.
Commission defiant against JD Vance free speech attack
Commission reacts to JD Vance comments on Romanian elections.
X cooperating with EUโs DSA investigation
X handed over documents on their recommender systems as required.
Commission integrates disinformation code into DSA
The code will come into effect from 1 July 2025.
Workshops set for online advertising code of conduct
The DSA says that the Commission should prepare the Code of Conduct on online advertising by 18 August
Fake climate news thriving as politics and AI turbocharge disinformation crisis [Advocacy Lab Content]
Cognitive warfare remains a key part of Russiaโs military strategy, with an estimated annual budget reaching $4 billion.
French Court suspects X algorithm bias
The announcement comes just days before X’s owner Elon Musk is expected in Paris for the AI Action Summit.
Anonymised data comes into focus
And EU countries tiptoe towards a unified approach to resilient telecoms infrastructure.
Second round of questions for Shein as Commission mulls DSA case
Shein has been under DSA investigations since April
Fears mount over future of EU-US data flows, X class action underway
The e-commerce surprise of the day came not from the Commission strategy but from American flip-flopping over Chinese packages.
Big day for e-commerce, Commission vs advertisers over digital fairness
Plus, a call for Cloud and LLMs to feature under the Digital Markets Act.
Germany keeps DSA crisis mechanism off the table
Despite having the authority to trigger the crisis mechanism, Germany has so far seen no grounds to do so.
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The week ahead in Tech: 3-9 February
DeepSeek mapped, missed AI Act deadlines, and Poland makes slow progress on a DSC.
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Germany gives Big Tech a passing grade in elections stress test
The platforms were presented with various scenarios based on past experience of attempted election manipulation, such as information manipulation through deepfakes to distort content.
The post Germany gives Big Tech a passing grade in elections stress …
12 EU countries urge Commission do more against election interference
But the Commission will not accelerate ongoing investigations under the Digital Services Act, a spokesperson said on Friday.
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Early MFF work finds Tech enforcement lacking and Deepseek questions cross Europe
A GPAI downgrade for disinformation, and a deep dive in Connect Europe’s numbers.
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Copyright clash on the AI Code of Practice, and how Deepseek is Europeโs new TikTok
A European agency quits X in favour of Bluesky for potentially the first time, and Euractiv looks at the AI investment required to draw even with the US.
The post Copyright clash on the AI Code of Practice, and how Deepseek is Europe’s new TikTok…
The week ahead in Tech: 27 January โ 2 February
No EU plans to ditch X, first Political Tech Summit roundup, and Competitiveness Compass.
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Germany cooperating with big tech platforms ahead of elections
The federal government must ”work closely with platforms operators”, the German Digital Minister said in an interview.
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Democracy Shield MEPs listed, and Germany rallies social media to protect election
And Meta under fire over its pay-or-okay, weakened community standards, and misogyny.
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Germanyโs interior minister calls on social media to protect election
Germany can protect its elections from foreign interference by activating a crisis mechanism in the EU’s DSA โ if it chooses to.
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Zelenskyy slams Europe on Tech, full EP timeline for AI Liability Directive
And is Meta censoring #TheLeft?
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Hate speech Code in DSA, geoblocking reassessed, and CCIA vs Italy
While Europe slept, Trump made some Tech changes including disbanding America’s most important piece of AI governance, and a 75-day stay of execution for TikTok.
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The week ahead 20-26 January
EDPS selection enters second week, Trump II starts today, and holes in the EU’s health cyber plan
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Commission extends DSA investigation against X
The Commission’s investigation into X has been ongoing since December 2023.
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Googleโs factcheck backtrack, EDPS updates, and more
And a round-up of some of the smaller stories you might have missed
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The EUโs next move as Big Tech gets behind Trump
In this episode, host Giada Santana and tech reporter Anupriya Datta discuss the latest developments on X and Meta and whether the DSA has teeth against them.
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Metaโs drop of fact-checking hard to brand as illegal
Nothing in the DSA text explicitly says using community notes, either alone or in place of fact-checking, is illegal.
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Zuckerberg calls on US to defend tech companies against European โcensorshipโ
He complained on the world’s biggest podcast that in the last 10 years “people started pushing for ideologically based censorship.”
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Europe unites to demand Commission enforce the DSA
While many European leaders are urging the Commission to step up enforcement against X and Meta, Meloni continues to defend X owner Elon Musk.
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MEPs call for debate on Elon Muskโs โabuse of social networksโ
A growing number of MEPs have questioned whether Musk’s posts breach the EU’s content moderation law.
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Weidel-Musk X interview legal but could influence Commissionโs DSA investigation
โFreedom of expression is at the core of our democracyโ said a Commission spokesperson.
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AI training as legitimate interest, โฌ10 billion for an EU Starlink
The weekly Tech wrap-up containing the Commissionโs investigation into TikTok, an interoperability push on Apple, and Ryanair’s GDPR complaints.
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Tech Pro Brief โ fears over TikTok from Strasbourg to Zagreb, and a DSA enforcement matrix
Euractiv’s Pro newsletter covering all things Tech, brought to you by Chris Powers, Thรฉophane Hartmann, and Jacob Wulff Wold.
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Tech Pro Brief โ the week ahead, 16-20 December
Euractiv’s Pro newsletter covering all things Tech, brought to you by Chris Powers, Thรฉophane Hartmann, and Jacob Wulff Wold.
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Tech Pro Brief โ CRA, GPSR in force, SMEs demand Eurostack, and TikTok Shop opens in Europe
Euractiv’s Pro newsletter covering all things Tech, brought to you by Chris Powers, Thรฉophane Hartmann, and Jacob Wulff Wold.
The post Tech Pro Brief – CRA, GPSR in force, SMEs demand Eurostack, and TikTok Shop opens in Europe appeared first on …
Tech Pro Brief โ a telecoms third way, Big Tech and the payment service regulation, new Digital Decade targets
Euractiv’s Pro newsletter covering all things Tech, brought to you by Chris Powers, Thรฉophane Hartmann, and Jacob Wulff Wold.
The post Tech Pro Brief – a telecoms third way, Big Tech and the payment service regulation, new Digital Decade targets …
Technology could help Europeโs Digital Fairness Act enforce online rights [Advocacy Lab Content]
Online advertising is still a minefield. Consumer advocates want to see current rules enforced and legislative gaps closed. Technology could make the difference.
The post Technology could help Europeโs Digital Fairness Act enforce online rights appeare…
Commission orders TikTok to retain data related to elections in EU until March
TikTok has been ordered to preserve documents and data related to elections in the EU for a period of about four months, ending in March 2025.
DSA audit scorecard: How are Big Tech platforms complying with the EUโs landmark legislation?
The EU’s Digital Service Act requires 19 large online platforms to get independent audits to ensure transparency and protection of users’ rights. Euractiv has compiled the results.
TikTok hits back against allegations in Romanian elections
The company defends its actions after being accused of not handling misinformation properly.
Romania officials to meet over โcyber risksโ to elections
Georgescu’s popularity seems to have been boosted by viral TikTok campaigns calling for an end to aid for neighbouring Ukraine and sounding a sceptical note on NATO.
Meta calls for EU regulation on age verification
Age verification should happen at the operating system or app store level, Meta said.
The Trump win and its lesson for EU tech policy
Trumpโs win not only reminds Europe that it must be able to stand on its own feet in digital tech. It also illustrates the collateral damage unguided digitalisation can do to societies, writes Daniel Mรผgge.
European Commission opens formal proceedings into Temu over illegal goods, addictive design
It will look into what systems the platform has to prevent the sale of illegal goods in the EU.
Irelandโs commissioner-designate McGrath outlines how to protect EU values in tech policy
McGrath’s written answers to MEPs reveal details about his plans for the Digital Fairness Act and consumer protection.
NIS2 transposition deadline, R&I reform debate
The Commission announced most member states failed to meet NIS2 transposition deadline, academia rallies against competitiveness fund idea with new expert report in hand.
Toy industry cautions on safety of products sold in online marketplaces
On Amazon, 10 toys out of 25 were dagerous, on Temu 19 out of 25, on Shein all 10 out of 10, and on AliExpress 10 out of 14.
X not a gatekeeper under the DMA, concludes the Commission
“The Commission will continue to monitor the developments on the market” with respect to X, reads a Commission press release.
European Commission demands information from Temu over illegal goods
Temu is under the microscope by both the Commission and member states.
New Irish DSA dispute body has ties to Meta, but assures independence
The Appeals Centre received $15 million in funding from Meta’s Oversight Board Trust.
European authorities press on with digital wallets for social media age verification
The wallets are not mandatory but could become a gold standard for age verification.
The new Commissionโs tech agenda, inside the Council telecoms negotiations
The new tech Commissionโs has a long to-do list and some shifts in focus, an insider look at Council negotiations on telecoms shows member states are likely to strongly resist deregulation.
Adult-content creators call for inclusion in AI policy talks
Adult industry stakeholders are looking to influence artificial intelligence (AI) regulations to protect content creators’ rights amid emerging issues like AI-generated pornography, deepfakes, and age verification challenges.
Civil society criticises Commissioner Bretonโs approach to EU digital rulebook
Civil society groups and academics have criticised European Commissioner Thierry Breton’s recent letter to Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, arguing that it misinterprets the Digital Services Act and threatens free expression.
EU Commission seeks details from Meta on data access and election monitoring
The European Commission sent a request for information to Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Friday (16 August), seeking details on compliance with data access and election monitoring requirements.
EU Commissioner Breton reminds X owner Musk of EU digital rulebook compliance ahead of Trump debate
On Monday (12 August), European Commissioner Thierry Breton urged Elon Musk to ensure X adheres to EU regulations and effectively moderates content, ahead of Musk’s planned live-streamed debate with US presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Apple changes EU app store policy after Commission probe
Apple on Thursday (8 August) changed its policy in the European Union to allow developers to communicate with their customers outside its App Store after the commission charged the iPhone maker in June for breaching the bloc’s tech rules.
Europeโs teenage โTikTok terroristsโ target Taylor Swift
The foiled jihadist terrorist plot targeting Taylor Swiftโs concerts in Vienna highlights an increasing terrorist threat coming from radicalised European teenagers, which experts blame on social media.ย
X slammed with data privacy complaint over AI training
Consumer organisations allege X’s artificial intelligence (AI) tool is in violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in a complaint filed with the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) on Monday (5 August).
TikTok Lite to permanently suspend Rewards Program in EU, closing Commission investigation over addictive effects
TikTok can no longer launch rewards programmes for its EU users, following binding measures that the European Commission announced on Monday (5 August).
European Commission pushes for DSA enforcement tools
The Commission is pushing for better enforcement tools for the Digital Services Act, the EU’s landmark content moderation law, in two documents, including provisions on protection of minors, regulation of influencers, and addictive design.
EU Commission urges six member states to appoint authorities for DSA enforcement
The European Commission has initiated infringement procedures for Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden, asking them to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), according to a Friday (26 July) press release.
Pornhub challenges natural names disclosure under digital rules at Europeโs highest court
Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company, is appealing to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to avoid having to disclose the natural names of users in its ad repository, as required by its Digital Services Act (DSA) designation.
The whoโs who of the Parliamentโs tech committees
Many familiar faces are returning to the European Parliament’s committees that deal with tech policies, but several key figures have also left the Parliament or the committees.
The Parliament is looking to increase its role in implementing digital policy, MEPs say
The European Parliament has had a traditionally limited role in implementing the regulations it ratifies, but in the next mandate, some lawmakers are keen to change that when it comes to digital policy.
Consumer authorities and EU Commission raise concerns about Metaโs โpay or OKโ model
Tensions between Meta and the EU intensified on Monday (22 July), with the European Commission and European consumer authorities saying the US tech giant may be breaching consumer protection law with its โpay or OKโ model.
Ursula von der Leyen lays out vision for tech-enabled competitiveness
Von der Leyen aims to boost Europe’s competitiveness through tech, implenenting existing regulation while boosting investments.
Apple opens NFC access, EU Commission takes on X
The EU Commission legally bound Apple to committments to open its ‘pay and tap’ technology and opened up a front with Elon Musk’s X.
EU Commission accuses X of breaking digital rulebook
The European Commission accused social media platform X of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA) over its verified accounts policy and lapses in transparency, in preliminary findings released on Friday (12 July).
XNXX joins list of porn sites subject to EU digital rulebook
The European Commission designated the pornography platform XNXX as a very large online platform under the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Wednesday (10 July), making it comply with the DSA’s strictest regulations.
European Commission probes Amazon over recommendation systems
The European Commission has sent a request for information to Amazon on measures taken to comply with a landmark law on content moderation, the Digital Services Act.
The general purpose AI codes of practice row, Meta accused of violating DMA
The Commission might let general purpose AI providers draft their own codes of practice, whereas it also accused Meta of anticompetitive behaviour under the DMA.
EU Commission demands information from Temu and Shein on illegal products, user protections
The European Commission formally requested information on Friday (28 June) from online marketplaces Temu and Shein on measures taken to comply with online safety regulation Digital Services Act (DSA).
Telcos vs Big Tech, Bretonโs future
Welcome to Euractivโs Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.ย
Next Commission should have mid-term review of digital rulebook, revise audiovisual media directive
The next European Commission should carry out a review of its digital rulebook mid-term and revise the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), says an internal briefing document seen by Euractiv.