News - For Consumers

"DSGVO: Fast drei Viertel der Firmen finden deutschen Datenschutz übertrieben" Die DSGVO ist nach 10 Jahren gut verankert, aber viele deutsche Firmen halten den Aufwand inzwischen für übertrieben.

The EU is set to fine Google a record amount for favoring its own services, leveraging the Digital Markets Act. Brussels is deploying its most potent antitrust weapon against the tech giant's persistent practices.

BEUC warns AI companion chatbots pose risks to EU consumers under current laws. A new report examines digital rights and potential harms from synthetic empathy technologies.

The EU prepares a record fine for Google over Digital Markets Act violations. A decision is expected before summer 2026 as Google warns of impacts on European users.

French startup Lipstip launches AI platform to protect brands across Europe. This sovereign deeptech solution offers significantly faster and more accurate trademark analysis compared to generalist models.

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" 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 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.

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.

Austria's Federal Administrative Court upholds a data protection ruling, ordering ORF. at to revise its cookie banner....

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Comissão Europeia propõe novas regras para facilitar viagens de comboio. Um único bilhete e transação prometem direitos plenos mesmo com múltiplos operadores.

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.

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.

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.