News - For Consumers
Daily digest of all European digital development news

This new Starlink offer available in France could well make you fall for Elon Musk's satellite internet
Starlink is expanding its reach in France with a new offer to attract users in areas without fiber internet. The company is offering free professional antenna installation to boost its appeal.

heise+ | Designing AI models according to the requirements of the AI Act
ENISA, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, releases a framework providing practical examples for designing, deploying, and operating AI models. This framework aims to help developers navigate the AI Act's requirements.

Digital Markets Act: EU Targets Cloud Power of US Tech Companies
Brussels is investigating the market power of major cloud providers, potentially imposing restrictions. This follows recent outages in cloud services, highlighting concerns about market dominance.

AWS, Azure, Google Cloud: the cloud giants would be in the crosshairs of Brussels (we explain why)
Brussels is investigating whether to impose new obligations on cloud services from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft under the Digital Markets Act. This action aims to address potential anti-competitive practices within the cloud market.

Study on the Digital Services Act: Transparency database for online services does not meet objectives
Brussels' transparency database for online services, part of the Digital Services Act (DSA), faces criticism for failing to meet its goals. A recent study reveals shortcomings in the database, designed to increase public understanding of online content moderation.

Data Protection Reform: EU states agree on faster GDPR enforcement
EU member states agreed on new rules to accelerate GDPR enforcement and cross-border data protection investigations. This aims to streamline cooperation among national data protection authorities, improving data privacy.

EU adopts Digital Trade Agreement with Singapore despite warnings: a setback for digital rights and democratic oversight
Brussels approved the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement, despite warnings of setbacks to digital rights and oversight. The agreement weakens the Union's ability to protect privacy and data, as deregulation pressures rise across Europe.

The "godfather of AI" believes AI LLMs are a dead end. Meta has turned him into a figurehead scientist
Yann LeCun, a leading AI figure, believes current generative AI models are a dead end, diverging from industry focus. LeCun, previously at Meta, is reportedly preparing to launch his own startup, challenging the data-intensive AI approach.

The operator that connected Spain for decades now faces its most difficult disconnection: the internal one
Telefónica plans a significant restructuring, announcing a layoff affecting 6,000-7,000 employees in Spain. The reduction, driven by infrastructure investments and changing market dynamics, represents a 70% workforce decrease since 1997.

How Snapchat manipulates its users through notifications
Dutch research reveals Snapchat employs deceptive notifications, violating the Digital Services Act's ban on manipulative design. The findings will inform potential enforcement actions, as platforms increasingly prioritize grabbing user attention.

Summit on Digital Sovereignty: Europe Needs the Courage to Share Its Sovereignty
Berlin hosts a summit on European digital sovereignty, bringing together 900 experts to discuss technological independence. The German and French governments lead the initiative, aiming for a broader, global approach to code and digital standards.

Revolut seals a new partnership with Booking.com, but what for?
Revolut partners with Booking. com to enhance the payment experience for travelers....

With this new French exchange, the tokenization of markets is accelerating. Here's why it's crucial
Lise, a new blockchain-based stock exchange, launches in France to accelerate tokenized markets for French SMEs. The exchange, open 24/7, will allow companies to raise funds through tokenized shares starting in 2026.

Amazon Strikes Back at IPTV Through Fire TV Stick
Amazon is cracking down on the misuse of its Fire TV Stick devices to access illegal sports streams, taking action against IPTV services. The company is implementing mechanisms to block these services, aiming to protect its platform from copyright infringement.

Verifactu is driving half of Spain crazy, but there's good news: freelancers with simple invoices are exempt
Spanish businesses must implement Verifactu, a new digital invoicing system by January 1, 2026, to combat fraud. Freelancers using simple invoices created with programs like Word or Excel are exempt from the requirement.

Being able to talk on WhatsApp without using WhatsApp: it's the app's most important change and it's already underway
WhatsApp launches interoperability in Europe, allowing users to send and receive messages from other messaging apps. This move follows the EU's Digital Markets Act, forcing the platform to open up to third-party integrations.

WhatsApp in Europe can now chat with other applications
WhatsApp is rolling out third-party chats in Europe, allowing users to connect with individuals on other messaging services. This move follows new rules requiring interoperability.

The EU already knows how to curb the dominance of Temu and Shein in e-commerce: small packages
Brussels aims to curtail the dominance of e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein by ending tax exemptions on small packages. The EU plans to eliminate the exemption for packages under €150, potentially by 2026, which previously cost the EU €1....

WhatsApp is launching third-party chat integration in Europe
Meta is set to launch third-party chat integration within WhatsApp across Europe, complying with the Digital Markets Act. Users will soon be able to message with apps like BirdyChat and Haiket, with end-to-end encryption maintained.

Merz: Huawei and Co. are banned from the outset in 6G networks
Germany will ban Chinese suppliers like Huawei from its future 6G networks, ensuring they have no place in the country’s telecom infrastructure. This decision aims to establish planning security for the next generation of mobile networks.
