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

Your mobile phone has been using a European "GPS" system for years. It's called Galileo
The European Galileo satellite navigation system is already widely used by smartphones across Europe. Millions of devices now depend on Galileo for location services, not just GPS.

Digital Sovereignty: How to Debunk a Myth
"Digital sovereignty" is a myth, according to researchers Julia Pohle and Marielle-Sophie Düh. They argue for an alternative to the buzzword at re:publica, a conference discussing German media houses' use of US software.

AI Forensics vs. BigTech: "We can have retaliation against us"
AI Forensics helps the European Commission enforce digital regulation by analyzing platform algorithms. The NGO director discusses the need for funding and legal protection for their work, highlighting the reliance on external expertise for evidence gathering.

“Fight for Us, Not for Them”: A Public Interest Vision for EU Tech Policy — new speakers announced
Civil society experts gather in Brussels to champion a public-interest vision for EU tech policy. The event advocates for protecting people, democracy, and fundamental rights against deregulation pressures.

noyb success: ORF.at must correct misleading cookie banner
Austria's Federal Administrative Court upholds a data protection ruling, ordering ORF. at to revise its cookie banner....

Plaintes contre Meta, TikTok et Google pour non-respect du règlement européen sur les services numériques (DSA) et incapacité à lutter efficacement contre les escroqueries en ligne
Consumer groups file DSA complaints against Meta, TikTok, and Google over online scam failures. Platforms allegedly violate the EU's Digital Services Act by not effectively combating fraudulent schemes.

Sponsored by Scammers
BEUC and 13 consumer groups documented 893 financial scams on Meta, TikTok, and Google between December 2025 and March 2026. The report highlights limited corrective measures by platforms to prevent scam circulation.

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?
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.
