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

Joint call for an ambitious Digital Fairness Act to better protect people online
Consumer groups urge an ambitious Digital Fairness Act to shield all users online from harmful practices. This act will update EU consumer law, boosting legal certainty and fair competition across digital markets.

Fewer rules, more innovation? The miscalculation of the new Brussels
EU risks sacrificing fundamental rights for AI innovation. A new analysis warns Brussels' drive to "regulate better" may weaken protections, pushing Europe into a misunderstood competitiveness race.

Privacy defenders win Felipe Rodriquez Awards
Privacy advocates BOOS and Bert Hubert win awards for championing child privacy and Dutch digital sovereignty. Hubert's "Cloud Kootwijk" proposal urges a government-run cloud to reduce Big Tech dependence.

Council and Parliament agree: Ban on sexualized deepfakes moves closer
EU lawmakers agree to ban non-consensual deepfakes, incorporating the prohibition into the AI Act. This move tackles AI-generated non-consensual nude imagery through legislative action.

EU Cybersecurity Regulation Forces Embedded Systems Industry to Make Changes
EU's Cyber Resilience Act forces changes on embedded systems like industrial computers and medical devices. Companies must now proactively address cybersecurity risks for their products.

EU Commission undermines data protection of the digital wallet
EU Commission weakens data protection for digital wallets by diluting the "need-to-know" principle. This decision undermines a core strength of the upcoming EUDI Wallet for official documents.

Open formats win: EU Commission reacts to LibreOffice criticism
EU Commission embraces open formats, releasing CRA feedback templates as ODS files after LibreOffice critique. This move encourages broader participation in digital policy development.

Hello bank! launches HelloïZ 2.0: the first AI-powered banking assistant
Hello bank! deploys AI assistant HelloïZ 2....

Negotiations in Brussels: Federal government saws away at data protection
Germany pushes to exempt pseudonymized data from GDPR, sparking warnings from civil society and data watchdogs. Other EU members reportedly oppose the proposed GDPR carve-out.

Digital Wallet: EU Commission wants Amazon to give you your face
EU's digital wallet faces backlash as privacy groups warn the Commission's changes could force biometric facial data sharing. This move risks undermining user privacy and security protections agreed upon by Parliament and Council.

FAQ on the EUDI Wallet: The most important questions and answers on the digital wallet
Germany launches digital wallet to streamline citizen identification with authorities and businesses. Privacy advocates warn of potential misuse, while proponents cite administrative digitization as a key benefit.

The eID Wallet still doesn’t deserve your full trust
Privacy advocates warn the EU's eID Wallet launch risks user tracking and forced data sharing. Civil society groups urge the Commission to amend draft rules before deployment to protect fundamental rights.

heise+ | Digital Euro Planned for 2029: This is the Current Status
Europe races toward a 2029 digital euro launch, but political hurdles remain. Major disputes over costs, data privacy, and competition are delaying final decisions.

AP warns political parties about targeted advertising municipal elections
Dutch watchdog warns political parties over illegal microtargeting in local elections. Forty parties likely breached rules, risking sanctions for undisclosed data use.

The influence of Snapchat’s gamification features on young people
Dutch researchers warn Snapchat's gamification features pressure young users into excessive screen time. This study advises policymakers on new guidelines to give users more control over online attention.

EDRi files DSA complaint against YouTube for undermining user autonomy
EDRi sues YouTube in Belgium, alleging its recommender system violates the Digital Services Act. The complaint targets the platform's user autonomy safeguards under new EU digital rules.

There are European alternatives to Google Drive if you want your photos in the cloud. Internxt is one of them: it only costs 16 euros a year
European cloud storage alternatives challenge US giants. Spanish startup Internxt offers 1TB for just €16 annually, aiming to reduce reliance on American tech services.

NIS2: Why so few companies are registering
Fewer than 10% of eligible German companies registered for NIS2, stalling the EU's cybersecurity directive rollout. Non-compliance risks significant fines for businesses across the bloc.

heise+ | Standards as Law: How Standards are Shaping the AI Act
EU's AI Act links mandatory regulation with standardization, turning technical norms into a legal tool. This approach aims to shape AI development and compliance across the bloc.

Spain is preparing a data center specifically intended to have an AI for war. The surprise: it's in Soria
Spain launches Numant-IA, a new data center in Soria dedicated to artificial intelligence for defense. The project integrates advanced computing and algorithms, marking a significant step in Spain's technological military capabilities.
