Tech tax was never set in stone, says Britainโs trade chief as Trump tariffs loom
Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds hints that digital services tax could be revamped as U.K. faces U.S. pressure to pare it back.
digital services
From welfare cuts to Trump tariffs: 7 takeaways from the UK spring statement
Social security cuts, a Whitehall squeeze โ and a (future) silver lining on growth. POLITICO sat through Rachel Reevesโ spring statement so you didnโt have to.
Starmerโs 8 days to convince Trump
๐Listen to Politics At Sam And Anneโs on your podcast app๐ Your morning politics digest with Sky Newsโ Sam Coates and Politicoโs Anne McElvoy. The countdown to Trumpโs tariff โLiberation Dayโ continues with the UK looking at its options ahead of announcing any trade deal. Is abolishing Britainโs digital services tax still one of the [โฆ]
โNothing is off the tableโ in Trump trade talks, UK tech chief says
Peter Kyle says both sides are ‘exploring all’ options as London considers putting its Big Tech tax up for negotiation with the U.S.
Romanian media watchdog defies Musk over censorship claims
Bucharest is at the center of a heated debate over social media policing.
Belgian public transport companies quit Elon Muskโs X
Get your service delay info somewhere else!
Hereโs Britainโs pitch to Donald Trump on a new tech pact
The U.K. hopes teaming up with the U.S. on advanced tech might help avoid the president’s tariff wrath.
EU social media law isnโt censorship, tech chief tells US critic
Henna Virkkunen tells U.S. member of Congress that the EU is ‘deeply committed’ to protecting free speech.
Our obsession with technology is failing our children
Prioritizing childrenโs resilience amid this tech revolution isnโt just a moral imperative โ itโs essential for the future of our societies.
US Communications Chair attacks EU on free speech and AI development
He called the EUโs Digital Services Act (DSA) incompatible with ย โAmerican free speech tradition.โ
US official slams EUโs social media โcensorshipโ
Federal Communications Commission chair warns that the EU’s Digital Services Act threatens censorship that is “incompatible” with U.S. free speech.
EU lawmakers try to counter tech brosโ Washington lobbying
Their meeting didn’t quite go as hoped, with U.S. politicians railing against EU “censorship regimes.”
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.”
EU ready to negotiate on car tariffs with Trump, trade commissioner says
EU Trade Commissioner Maroลก ล efฤoviฤ said the bloc is “ready to discuss” reducing its 10 percent tariff as part of broader negotiations.
Vanceโs week of waging war on EU tech law
The U.S. vice president attacked Europe’s regulations governing American Big Tech giants and online speech.
Security is the new safety
SNEAK PEEK โย ย The U.K. AISI drops โsafetyโ for โsecurityโ as it rebrands for the Trump era. โย DSIT and Anthropic ink a new partnership. โย Whatโs happened to the porn review? Good morning and happy Friday, This is Tom, unable to find where Iโve hidden my wifeโs Valentineโs card. You can get in touch with your news, [โฆ]
Criminals use AI chatbots too
SNEAK PEEK โ Criminals use AI chatbots to commit fraud, Europolโs chief AI officer warns. โ The U.K. switches from โAI safety to โAI security.โ โ The Munich Security Conference is working hard to make killer AI cool. Good morning and welcome to Morning Tech. This is Pieter. #TGIF (unless youโre in Munich, then the [โฆ]
Trump sets out process for imposing global reciprocal tariffs
The president tasked top Cabinet officials to study the matter further before deciding on specifics.
Starlink looks pale in comparison with what Europeans can get
SNEAK PEEK โ Has Elon Muskโs Starlink got a shot in Europe? Not really. โ The withdrawal of the EUโs AI liability rules has fans and critics. โย Thereโs a new report about the price tag of the Eurostack. Good morning and welcome to Morning Tech. Hi, this is Pieter, back in Brussels after frantic days [โฆ]
Britain ditches AI declaration, pitches for cash
SNEAK PEEK โ As the AI Action Summit kicks off, the U.K. is tempted against signing its main declaration. โ Peter Kyle takes his investment pitch to Paris. โ Back at home, thereโs a backlash against the Home Office over encryption. Good Monday morning, This is Tom in Paris. You can get in touch with [โฆ]
France opens probe into Muskโs X over algorithm
Investigation is over allegations the social media company manipulated its algorithm, Paris public prosecutor’s office says.
How political is your pizza? The Mediterranean Diet and Europeโs food battles
Pasta, pizza, and Parmigiano โ delicious? Absolutely. But in 2025, theyโre also deeply political. This week on EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton digs into how food has become a battleground, with POLITICO agriculture reporter Alessandro Ford explaining how Italyโs far-right โ and politicians across Europe โ are using the Mediterranean diet to push back against [โฆ]
German authorities โwell preparedโ for social media election interference
Social media companies including TikTok, Meta and X took part in an election stress test on Friday.
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.
The post 12 EU countries urge Commission do more against election interference appeared first on Euractiv.
Fact-checkers under fire as Big Tech pulls back
Meta’s move to ditch fact-checking put a target on the back of fake-news fighters, they warn.
Trumpโs war on tech taxes is a big problem for Britain
U.S. tech lobby groups plan to use trade negotiations to push back against the U.K.โs Digital Services Tax.
Tech billionaires want to โoverthrow democracyโ with social media, Spain PM Sรกnchez says
“The technology that was intended to free us has become the tool of our own oppression.”
Press release – Enforcing the Digital Services Act: press conference on Tuesday at 15.30 CET
Following tomorrowโs debate on the enforcement of EU digital rules to protect democracy online, Christel Schaldemose (S&D, DK) will hold a press conference.Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Source : ยฉ European Union, 2025 – EP
EU hate speech guidelines get folded into the Digital Services Act
The code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online+ will now formally become part of the EU’s content moderation framework.
European Parliament finally devises plan to force lawmakers to actually turn up
Debate after debate, MEPs often speak to an empty chamber. A trial next week could change all that.
Dude, whereโs my robot? Europe trails Korea, US
Draft document obtained by POLITICO exposes Europe’s tech lag.
Musk, Meta fuel far-right attack against EU tech โcensorshipโ
Far-right lawmakers feel empowered to step up their attacks against EU social media rules.
Elon Muskโs man in the European Parliament
Independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou met the billionaire in 2023 and has taken his line on some big political issues, from Ukraine to digital rules.
Brussels will be watching whether Musk breaks EU law in far-right livestream
Up to 150 experts in Brussels and Seville will be checking whether Musk’s livestream interview boosts the German far right.
La pression monte sur lโUE pour quโelle utilise des armes juridiques contre lโingรฉrence de Musk
La Commission europรฉenne indique quโelle va รฉtudier si X a donnรฉ un avantage injuste ร lโextrรชme droite pour les รฉlections allemandes.
Albaniaโs TikTok ban raises rule of law questions
Planned nationwide embargo on TikTok is an “abuse of power” and will suppress free speech, opposition warns.
Pressure mounts on EU to use legal weapons against Muskโs interference
European Commission says it will study whether X gives unfair boost to far right in German election.
Comment rรฉsoudre le problรจme Musk ?
Le magnat de la tech est en relation avec de nombreux responsables politiques dans le monde. Les gouvernements europรฉens nโont pas encore trouvรฉ comment gรฉrer le fait dโรชtre dans son collimateur.
How do you solve a problem like Elon Musk?
The “chameleon” tech billionaire is one of the most powerful politically connected people in the world. Europe’s governments are still working out how to deal with being on his bad side.
The biggest battles headed for Brussels
What the EU will be squabbling about in VDLโs second term.
EU launches probe into TikTok over ‘interference’ in Romania’s presidential election
‘Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential elections by using TikTok, we are now thoroughly investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act,’ Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.
EU meets the moment on TikTok and the Romanian election
Commission will probe the platformโs protections against foreign interference and election meddling.
As long as the system of remedies and the objectives are not undermined: The Court of Justice on GDPR enforcement (Case C-21/23, Lindenapotheke)
Alessandra Fratini and Giorgia
Lo Tauro, Fratini Vergano European lawyers
Photo credit: via Wikimedia Commons
Introduction
On 4 October 2024, the Grand
Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union issued its judgment
i…
Romania gives Europeโs digital police their first big test
The shock victory of an ultranationalist in Romania’s presidential election puts the EU’s Digital Services Act in the spotlight.
The Councilโs position on proposed EU law on migrant smuggling: cynical political theatre?
Professor Steve Peers, Royal Holloway University of
London
Photo credit: Ggia,
via Wikimedia Commons
Introduction
Member Statesโ ministers (the EU
Council) are likely to agree a negotiating position this week on replacement of
existing EU law …
European Commission orders TikTok to preserve all data on Romanian election
Brussels steps up monitoring of platform to decide whether TikTok breached social media law.
Elon Muskโs X tells the EU: Weโre a safe space for free speech
The Elon Musk-owned social media platform touts its moderation efforts in a risk assessment submitted to the Commission.
Brussels to mediate between TikTok and Romania as election row builds
Chinese-owned app is under mounting pressure to explain how it handled political content ahead of Romanian vote.
Romania asks EU to investigate TikTokโs election handling after ultranationalistโs stunning win
Bucharest authorities found โvarious irregularitiesโ with election campaigns on TikTok.
France doubles down on age minimum of 15 for social media use
Paris renews push for EU-wide uptake of its “digital majority” at 15.
Europeโs press goes after Muskโs X
Media organizations turns up the heat on X amid cries of ‘toxic’ content.
5 things to know about EU tech security chief Henna Virkkunenโs hearing
Elon Musk and Europe’s tech gaps show the Finnish nominee has a major task at hand.
What lawmakers should ask the EUโs new tech boss
Queries for Henna Virkkunen: What’s tech sovereignty? How can Europe win the AI race? And how will you enforce EU tech rules?
French minister to Musk: Donโt break democracy like you did Twitter
Jean-Noรซl Barrot dealt with Elon Musk’s handling of X in his previous role as France’s tech minister.
Elon Musk calls Germanyโs Scholz a โfoolโ
The tech billionaire, emboldened after Donald Trump’s U.S. election victory, picks a fight with Berlin’s embattled chancellor.
EU launches action against shopping website Temu over illegal products
Formal investigation opens amid concerns Chinese shopping website is breaching Digital Services ActBusiness live โ latest updatesThe EU has launched formal proceedings against the Chinese shopping website Temu amid concerns it is failing to halt the sa…
EU opens probe into Chinese e-commerce platform Temu
The Commission will look into whether the Chinese e-commerce company has failed to crack down on illegal products and addictive designs.
Budget : le gouvernement ร lโheure des concessions
La source dโinformations quotidiennes sur tech en France. Par OCรANE HERRERO Avec KLARA DURAND Infos, tuyaux et mini-drames ร partager ? Ecrivez ร Ocรฉane Herrero, Klara Durand et Tiphaine Saliou | Voir dans votre navigateur AU MENU โ Vers une consultation sur les casinos en ligne. โ Groupes dโรฉtudes : les prรฉtendants se prรฉparent ร [โฆ]
EU creates ‘Appeals Centre’ to referee disputes with social media giants
Appeals Centre Europe, an out-of-court dispute settlement body set up under the EU’s Digital Services Act and backed by Meta, is due to ‘decide cases relating to Facebook, TikTok and YouTube’ to begin with.
So long, no thanks to all the fash: review of Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter, by Kate Conger and Ryan Mac
Professor Steve Peers, Royal Holloway University of
London
Photo credit: mikemacmarketing, image via vpnsrus
Full disclosure first: After exactly
ten and a half years, I stopped posting on X (formerly Twitter) on August 10,
2024. I cou…
Reenvisioning Europeโs digital sovereignty
Von der Leyen’s current dominant position presents an opportunity to turn the bloc into a global-facing innovation powerhouse.
Finnish horse enthusiast is an EU tech front-runner
Henna Virkkunen is well placed to nab a key European Commission post on tech or innovation.
Musk praises Draghi, calls for less EU red tape
Elon Musk’s X is subject to a Commission probe on compliance with the bloc’s content-moderation rulebook.
Iran pays millions in ransom to end massive cyberattack on banks, officials say
IRLeaks, a group with a history of hacking Iranian companies, was said to be responsible.
As France cracks down on Telegram, EU sits on the sidelines
Europe has moved slowly to regulate Pavel Durov’s social media app.
Stakes high for European Union after arrest of Telegram co-founder
The charges against Pavel Durov increases pressure on Brussels to enforce new European law on the platformThe surprise arrest of the Russian-born co-founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, after he stepped off his private jet in Paris last Saturday night, ha…
โRussians do everything via Telegram.โ Pavel Durovโs arrest upends Kremlin military comms
Although Durov publicly distances himself from Moscow, his platform has become vital for Russian army coordination in Ukraine.
Telegram is a bigger headache than Elon Muskโs X for the EU
France’s arrest of tech prodigy spotlights messaging service that shelters those who want to avoid government attention.
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 takes shot at Musk over Trump interview โ and misses
Europe’s chief digital official faces fire for “interfering” in U.S. election.
Brexit Britain creeps back into Brusselsโ orbit under Labour
A bill which paves the way for closer regulatory alignment with the European Union almost slipped under the radar.
Itโs Elon Muskโs X and governments are having to live with it
Officials from London to Washington say Musk is accountable to no one.
TikTok to ditch โaddictiveโ tool in Europe at EUโs request
TikTok promised not to roll out a reward program in its Lite app to push users to engage more in the European Union.
Labour plots radical shake-up at heart of British government
Cabinet Office faces being stripped back to core functions with 80 percent of staff moving out of the department, under plans for reform.ย
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.
Von der Leyen: โMy heart bleedsโ over social media health effects
Politicians across Europe and the U.S. have raised the alarm over social media’s digital harm to kids.
To do: 6 thorny issues lurking in MEPsโ inboxes
From creating an EU-wide money market to protecting kids online, POLITICO looks at what lies ahead for lawmakers.
EU warns X it may face fines for โdeceptiveโ blue-tick system
Preliminary findings suggest platform breached Digital Services Act and could be fined 6% of global turnoverElon Muskโs X has been warned by the EU it potentially faces large fines after regulators said its blue-tick system for users is deceptive and i…
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).
EU charges Elon Muskโs X for letting disinfo run wild
The tech mogul’s platform is the first to get hit with charges under new EU social media law.
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.
Tony Blair admits UK will need โa little persuadingโ to embrace digital ID
The former prime ministerโs suggestion is already causing a headache for the new Labour government.
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.
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).
Commission demands details from porn platforms on protections for minors and illegal content
The European Commission formally requested pornography platforms Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos for detailed information on their compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), according to a Thursday (13 June) statement.
How consumer protections can be enhanced in e-commerce
This week, together with Marco Scialdone, a lawyer and adjunct professor of law and management of digital content and services at the European University of Rome, we delve into the impact of the EUโs Digital Services Act (DSA).
The Brief โ EU elections are a major stress test for digital rulebook
The upcoming EU elections will be a major stress test for the bloc’s digital rulebook, and particularly the Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark content moderation law.
By the numbers: How politicians have advertised online for the European election
Among the biggest spenders is Hungarian PM Viktor Orbรกnโs Fidesz party.
Online fashion retailer Temu added to EU digital rulebookโs โsystemic riskโ list
The European Commission announced that online fashion retailer Temu has been designated as a โvery large online platformโ (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Friday (31 May).
Facebook scheitert im Kampf gegen Desinformation
Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรRGEN KLรCKNER Mit LAURA HรLSEMANN und JULIUS BRINKMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ Desinformation auf Facebook: Eine Auswertung, die POLITICO vorliegt, zeigt, wie das soziale Netzwerk vor der Wahl damit [โฆ]
Von der Leyen online ad campaign breaches EUโs own transparency rules
Up to โฌ70K in Google ads promoting the German politician didn’t disclose links to her reelection campaign.
Danish PM calls for 15+ age limit for social media in EU
EU’s content-moderation rulebook has proven to be โnot sufficientโ to stand up against tech giants, said Mette Frederiksen.
Divided by migration, this tiny Italian community turned into a ghost town
Now the mayor who was responsible for the ‘Global Village’ is plotting for political redemption in the upcoming European election.
EU warns Microsoftโs Bing could face probes over deepfakes and false news
Brussels suspects tech giant violated content moderation law.
Commission probes Meta for violating EU digital rulebook in protection of minors
The European Commission initiated an investigation on Thursday (16 May) into whether Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, has violated the Digital Services Act (DSA) concerning the protection of minors.
EU investigates Facebook owner Meta over child safety and mental health concerns
Companyโs social media platforms, which also include Instagram, may have addictive effects, says European Commissionโข Business live โ latest updatesThe European Commission has opened an investigation into the owner of Facebook and Instagram over concer…
EU hits Meta with new probe over โaddictiveโ algorithms harming children
Brussels targets social media giant over so-called rabbit holes.