News - For Consumers
Daily digest of all European digital development news
No one has been able to beat Revolut in Spain yet. Monzo's response: "yet"
Neobank Monzo registers with the Bank of Spain, seeking approval to operate as a branch. This regulatory step allows the UK's Monzo, with 13 million customers, to officially enter the Spanish market.
Research study: Evaluation of EU’s Law Enforcement Directive shows implementation still fragmented and insufficient
EDRi study finds EU Law Enforcement Directive implementation fragmented eight years after entry into application. Five member states show insufficient digital rights protection due to ongoing fragmentation.
AI Literacy: what is it, why now, and how do you approach it? | iPeople
AI literacy is the foundational skill of 2026: knowing what AI can and cannot do, prompting safely, recognizing hallucinations, and understanding the EU AI Act rules. A practical guide for businesses and governments.
A gigantic submarine cable between Europe and Africa: Orange's "life insurance" to secure the internet
Orange and partners announce Via Africa, a new subsea cable connecting Europe and Africa to boost internet resilience. The cable will feature European connections in the UK, France, Portugal, and the Canary Islands, improving international communication diversity.
European Commission has a plan to facilitate train travel
Comissão Europeia propõe novas regras para facilitar viagens de comboio. Um único bilhete e transação prometem direitos plenos mesmo com múltiplos operadores.
Digital Ministers' Conference: Wildberger wants to water down data protection for AI use in administration
Germany's Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger wants to ease data protection for AI in public administration. Bundesländer agreed to speed up digitalization by prioritizing AI use over strict data privacy rules.
Regulator investigates Meta after our complaint!
Irish regulators are investigating Meta over user choice on Facebook and Instagram timelines. Bits of Freedom's complaint highlights Meta’s alleged failure to offer a non-profiling feed option required by the EU's Digital Services Act.
Digital Sovereignty: Office for the Protection of the Constitution buys European Palantir Alternative
Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz buys French software instead of US Palantir for data analysis. The move aims to bolster digital sovereignty and avoid controversial US technology.
Ireland investigates Meta for breaching the DSA – a year on from our complaint
Ireland investigates Meta for breaching the DSA's obligation to offer users alternative news feeds without profiling. The probe, prompted by a complaint, aims to protect digital rights across Europe and enforce EU platform laws.
EU Passenger Package can be the ticket to more train travel
EU Commission unveils Passenger Package to simplify train booking and boost passenger rights. New rules require rail operators to sell competitor offers and share data, fostering competition and easier multi-platform ticketing....
The EU agrees to improve patients’ access to critical medicines
The EU agrees on its Critical Medicines Act to secure the bloc's supply of essential drugs. This deal aims to prevent shortages of antibiotics, vaccines, and treatments for chronic diseases, ensuring better access for patients across member states.
Did the EU Parliament really vote not to protect children online?
The EU Parliament blocked surveillance measures to protect children online, clashing with member states and the Commission. Negotiations stalled in April 2026 over the 'interim ePrivacy derogation'.
The tech lobby wins in weakening the AI regulation
AI Act implementation delayed as tech lobby wins concessions, pushing key high-risk AI rules to 2027/2028. This postponement allows unchecked AI development, raising concerns for safety and fundamental rights.
AP imposes fine of 100 million euros on taxi app Yango
The Dutch Data Protection Authority fines taxi app Yango €100 million for transferring personal data to Russia. The company behind Yango's European operations is based in the Netherlands.
AI Regulation: EU Parliament and Council agree on relaxed obligations for industry
EU Parliament and Council agree to ease AI Act obligations for industry, delaying key high-risk system rules to 2027-2028. A ban on AI-generated sexual deepfakes was also added.
AI Omnibus risks creating dangerous regulatory loopholes and weakening consumer protection
BEUC criticizes the EU's AI Omnibus for creating loopholes and weakening consumer protection by delaying AI Act provisions. The deal rolls back data protections for AI training and exempts machinery from scrutiny, risking future deregulation.
European Commission: In the age verification app, a heart from Google beats
The EU Commission's age verification app uses Google developers' technology, raising privacy and dependency concerns. IT experts warn this reliance on a US tech giant could compromise data protection, especially with the upcoming EUDI Wallet.
Bison Bank launches the first Portuguese stablecoin
Bison Bank launches Portugal's first regulated stablecoin, poised to compete in the European market. The Electronic Money Token aims to offer a new digital financial instrument.
The PVPC has been a safety net for Spanish families for years: the EU believes it is now time to dismantle it
The European Commission demands Spain end regulated electricity tariffs to foster market competition and energy efficiency. Brussels cites financial risk prevention, urging stress tests for energy suppliers to avoid past crises.
Suspicionless mass surveillance: data protection officers criticize chat control
German data protection officials urge EU lawmakers to scrap "mass surveillance" chat control. They argue it breaches end-to-end encryption and is unprecedented for a state governed by the rule of law.