News - For Consumers

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is showing early consumer benefits after eighteen months of implementation, giving users more digital choices. iOS users can now select default browsers and apps, make contactless payments outside Apple Pay, and create Google accounts without Gmail.

Apple will launch live translation for AirPods in the EU by December, finally bringing the feature to the continent. The company cites the Digital Markets Act as the reason for the delay, with real-time translation across nine languages available.

Telekom and Nvidia are building an underground AI data center in Munich to house 10,000 "Blackwell" GPUs. The facility will provide industrial AI services.

A rapper sues Spotify alleging it manipulated streams, potentially costing billions, to favor Drake's music. The lawsuit claims Spotify ignored bots artificially inflating listening numbers.

Brussels faces a security threat as adtech data exposes the EU and NATO to espionage. Commercial datasets with 278 million locations, including EU officials and NATO headquarters, allow for tracking and potential spying.

Millions of Europeans' mobile phone location data, gathered for advertising, is being sold and could be used for espionage. Even top EU officials are potentially affected by this data breach, raising concerns about data protection failures.

EU officials face potential spying risks as mobile location data of millions is available for purchase. The data, collected for advertising, allows for tracking, even affecting top EU personnel.

Brussels seeks a counter-strategy against Big Tech's dominance over Europe's subsea cables. Four US corporations currently control 71% of the cable capacity, according to a new report.

Spanish Army's Logistics Academy is developing "Gonzalo" (GZLO), an AI model to assist military operations. This ChatGPT-like system aims to serve as an administrative assistant, focusing on security and confidentiality within the armed forces.

Amazon is cutting 1,200 jobs in Madrid and Barcelona as part of its global restructuring. This move follows the company's initial announcement of 14,000 layoffs worldwide.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties filed a formal complaint with the EU Commission regarding the appointment of Niamh Sweeney as Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner. The human rights organization claims her past role as a Meta lobbyist compromises the data protection authority's independence.

The implementation of the EU's AI Act, with key parts slated for August 2026, faces potential delays due to missing standards, prompting industry calls for postponement. Organizations like European Digital Rights (EDRi) warn against this, yet a delay seems increasingly likely.

The International Criminal Court is ditching Microsoft for openDesk, an open-source office suite developed by Germany's Centre for Digital Sovereignty. This shift follows an email access issue, raising concerns about dependence on US tech.

Proton launches its Data Breach Observatory, offering users a way to check if their data has been compromised. This new tool from the privacy-focused company allows users to scan for data leaks.

Microsoft and Meta launch a virtual office feature connecting PCs to Meta Quest headsets, letting users access Windows 11 in a virtual desktop. The feature allows for multiple virtual screens while on the move.

Brussels faces a new challenge as a member of the European Parliament appeals to the European Court of Justice to halt data transfers to the US. This follows a previous court decision regarding the EU-US data transfer framework.

WhatsApp boosts security with enhanced backup protection to counter doubts about user safety. Meta's focus on user protection is now a proven fact.

NOS is testing a new technology that uses AI and blockchain to detect fake news and manipulated content. The innovative concept is currently in the testing phase.

The European Central Bank aims to launch the digital Euro by 2029, entering its next development phase. It will still be a while before consumers can use it for payments.

Bending Spoons, an Italian company, is acquiring AOL, the former icon of the World Wide Web, following the September acquisition of Vimeo. This expansion marks another step in Bending Spoons' strategy to consolidate its digital portfolio.