News - For Consumers
Daily digest of all European digital development news
EU to tighten enforcement of DSA and DMA
Brussels plans to ramp up enforcement of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act in 2026, targeting big tech. This move aims to ensure compliance across digital platforms within the European Union.
Hacker claims to have infiltrated the servers of NordVPN, company denies
A hacker claims to have breached a NordVPN development server, potentially accessing critical company data. However, the VPN provider has denied the intrusion completely.
The latest in open source: the projects that still keep the free web alive as we dreamed it
The article highlights open-source projects like Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap, emphasizing their commitment to shared information access. These initiatives contrast with today's web, dominated by a few platforms that monetize user data, maintaining the original vision of a free and open internet.
AI disinformation on TikTok: EU Commission examines "Polexit" campaign
The European Commission is investigating AI-generated videos circulating in Poland that promote leaving the EU and target young voters. These videos are potentially violating the Digital Services Act.
European innovation still resists: the 15 startups that became unicorns in 2025
European tech innovation shows resilience as 15 startups achieved unicorn status in 2025 despite a tougher funding environment. These new unicorns span sectors from health and AI to defense and space, demonstrating continued innovation.
The start of ALIA, the Spanish AI model, has been erratic and disappointing. Now we know why
Spanish AI model ALIA's launch was disappointing due to being rushed, according to developers. ALIA, a foundational AI model coordinated by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, faced infrastructure limitations.
Meta is required to accept competitors of its AI, the “Meta AI”, in WhatsApp
Italian regulators are forcing Meta to open WhatsApp's AI functionality, "Meta AI," to competitors. This move follows complaints about Meta's exclusive control over AI features within the popular messaging app.
In 1995, an engineer spent ten days writing code: 30 years later it is the glue that keeps the internet alive
JavaScript, born from a rapid ten-day coding sprint by engineer Brendan Eich, celebrates its 30th anniversary as a cornerstone of the internet. Initially a prototype for the Netscape browser, JavaScript's influence now underpins a significant portion of the visible web, despite early technical inconsistencies.
Webshops are not allowed to force customers to create an account in many cases
Webshops across the EU can no longer force customers to create accounts before buying products, according to new recommendations. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) clarified that mandatory accounts for online purchases often violate privacy rules, addressing long-standing consumer complaints.
Spain faces another of the most important digital shutdowns in its history: that of 2G and 3G connectivity
Spain begins shutting down 2G and 3G mobile networks to free up radio spectrum for 5G. The government opened a public consultation, with a goal to disconnect the older networks by January 2026.
New Cybersecurity Law: The 10 minimum security measures
Portugal's new cybersecurity law, Decree-Law No. 125/2025, goes into effect, implementing the NIS 2 directive....
Portugal digitally exposed: only 5% of the technological infrastructure is in the country
Portugal's digital sovereignty faces challenges, with a study revealing a strong reliance on foreign tech. Only 5% of the country's technological infrastructure is based domestically.
Spanish banks have no problem letting you buy cryptocurrencies. What they don't want to do is advise you on them
Spanish banks like BBVA, CaixaBank, and OpenBank now allow crypto trading, marking a shift for conservative institutions. Despite this, they offer no investment advice, leaving crypto decisions solely to customers.
Mail from "one of the most digitized countries in the world" will stop delivering letters
The Danish postal service, PostNord, will cease delivering letters on December 30th after over 400 years of service. This decision reflects the growing digitalization of Danish society.
Legal Outlook 2026: This changes for IT professionals next year
Brussels gears up for significant changes in IT law in 2026, impacting cybersecurity, AI, and platform regulation. Key updates stem from NIS2, the AI Act, and a new EU procurement strategy.
One night in the year 2000 Jennifer Lopez premiered a historic dress. And then Google changed the internet forever
Google's image search revolutionized how people access information online after Jennifer Lopez's iconic 2000 Grammy dress. The search engine moved from text-based results to visual content, impacting the internet's evolution.
YouTube takes action and deletes channels for AI-generated fake trailers
YouTube deletes channels generating fake movie trailers using AI, removing content farms that misled millions of viewers. Screen Culture and KH Studio were responsible for the deceptive videos.
Netflix entrusted him with more than 70 million for a series. He came with zero episodes and a luxury mattress bill of 638,000 dollars.
Netflix was defrauded of $11 million by director Carl Rinsch, who was found guilty of the crime after receiving $61 million for a sci-fi series. Rinsch spent the funds on personal investments and luxury items, as the series "White Horse" never materialized.
LG responds to criticism, retracts mandatory Copilot inclusion on TVs
LG is responding to user backlash by allowing removal of the Microsoft Copilot icon from its smart TVs. Thousands of users complained about the forced integration of the AI assistant on their devices.
Revolutionary: this French startup on its way to build a "universal quantum computer"
French startup C12 secured €13. 9 million in public funding from the France 2030 plan, aiming to build a universal quantum computer....