News - For Consumers

BEUC urges the EU to uphold consumer protections within the Digital Omnibus proposals, specifically regarding GDPR and the AI Act. The consumer organization expresses concerns that recent proposals may weaken these safeguards.

European privacy advocate Max Schrems criticizes the EU's proposed GDPR reform, arguing it needs significant changes. Schrems advocates for a reform that would ease burdens on small businesses while more strictly regulating data giants.

The gaming world is hotly debating the ethical implications of AI. The demo for 'Codex Mortis', a game developed entirely by AI, has sparked a divided response, with only 60% of Steam reviews being positive.

Portugal implements the NIS2 directive with a new cybersecurity law to enhance digital protection. The law broadens responsibilities and introduces significant changes to national legislation.

Mozilla reorganizes Firefox leadership, naming Anthony Enzor-DeMeo as CEO, and will focus on privacy and AI. This shift aims to boost growth.

TikTok continues sending user data to China, defying European privacy regulators' joint decision that deems the data transfer unlawful. The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP) warns users about the privacy implications of the social media platform's data practices.

German data protection authorities criticize the EU Commission's digital omnibus plans, citing concerns about legal uncertainties. The Conference of Data Protection Authorities of the Federation and the Länder (DSK) has proposed alternative reform suggestions to address these issues.

EU Social Democrats seek to understand the Digital Services Act's implementation by forming an investigation committee. This move follows the first penalty under the DSA: a €120 million fine against X.

AI hackers are approaching, and may soon surpass, human hackers, according to a Stanford University study. Researchers pitted an AI hacking bot, Artemis, against professional ethical hackers, revealing the AI's potential in cybersecurity threats.

PayPal's foray into advertising is under fire for allegedly collecting and selling extensive personal data, including sensitive information, to advertisers. A legal analysis concludes that PayPal's practices violate data protection laws.

Fortnite returns to the Android store in the US after a legal battle against Google's monopoly, marking a victory for Epic Games. The game's re-emergence follows a court order, though global expansion awaits final approval.

WhatsApp rolls out significant updates, including a new voicemail feature, enhancing its calling capabilities for users. The new 'Missed Call Messages' feature enables users to leave video or audio messages when calls go unanswered, offering a more complete phone-like experience.

Google faces a potential hefty fine from the EU due to the Play Store, unless it makes more adjustments. The penalty could be levied early next year.

PayPal faces criticism again after an audit revealed significant GDPR violations and data misuse for advertising purposes. The report details multiple shortcomings in the service's data protection practices.

Proton, the Swiss provider, launches Proton Sheets, a privacy-focused spreadsheet application. It offers end-to-end encryption and real-time collaboration, directly challenging Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.

TikTok is deploying its "Electoral Center" to combat misinformation during Portugal's presidential elections, following its use in legislative and local elections. The platform aims to provide reliable information and resources to voters.

Brussels is claiming credit for Apple and Google's revamped tools to ease user migration between iOS and Android. The European Commission sees this as a win for the Digital Markets Act and its data portability demands.

Deutsche Telekom and OpenAI have partnered to develop AI products tailored for the European market. This multi-year agreement focuses on creating solutions specifically for the continent's needs.

Mozilla is rolling out on-device web translations for iOS Firefox users, starting with German, French, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese. This new feature translates pages directly on the device, ensuring user privacy and offline access.

Meta will offer EU users Facebook and Instagram services with fewer targeted ads, following approval from the EU Commission. This change comes after the company's commitment to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).