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

Goodbye cash? The digital euro is coming soon to France, and it's not unanimous
Digital Euro is set to launch in France, sparking debate among banks. This new digital currency aims to transform daily transactions and European financial systems.

Cabify and Uber have a serious problem in Barcelona: the new "Taxi Law" from Catalonia seeks to exclude VTCs
Catalonia's new taxi law targets ride-sharing VTCs like Uber and Cabify, potentially barring them from Barcelona. The regional government advances the regulation, supported by key parties, to protect traditional taxis.

Right to broadband: Caught in Elon Musk's safety net
Elon Musk's Starlink fills a void in Germany's internet access rights, where few can secure faster connections. The satellite service becomes a crucial backup for underserved households struggling with slow, unreliable infrastructure.

AI Update Compact: AI Act, Groundsource, NemoClaw, Perplexity Computer
EU lawmakers push AI Act forward, targeting AI development and deployment risks. Perplexity AI announces new desktop computer, shifting focus from pure search to integrated AI experiences.

Civil society calls for an ambitious Digital Fairness Act on World Consumer Rights Day
Civil society urges a strong Digital Fairness Act, targeting manipulative online models and harmful practices. This call amplifies existing recommendations for a rights-based approach to digital fairness.

Omnibus AI Act: Deadline Extension and Deepfake Ban
EU lawmakers delay high-risk AI bans, adding a crucial deepfake prohibition. This shift impacts AI deployment timelines and content integrity regulations across the bloc.

If the controversy is that AI steals works in its training, the European Union has the solution: that they license them
EU proposes licensing copyrighted works for AI training, tackling "borrowed" content. AI firms must pay creators, moving from unauthorized use to regulated data acquisition.

Data centers have run out of "plugs" in central Europe, so they are migrating north and south
AI's surge strains European power grids, forcing data centers from key hubs like Frankfurt and London north and south. Over 80% of Dublin's power now goes to data centers, leading to a de facto moratorium until 2028.

GrapheneOS & Co.: More data protection for Android with custom ROMs | c’t uplink
Android users can now enhance privacy with custom ROMs like GrapheneOS. Experts explain improvements with and without these specialized operating systems in c't uplink.

Blue Tick: Elon Musk's platform X reacts to EU penalty threat
X, formerly Twitter, submits initial Digital Services Act compliance proposals to the EU. The platform aims to address violations ahead of potential EU penalties.

"A historic turning point": Revolut becomes a real bank, here's what changes
Fintech Revolut secures a full banking license in Europe, allowing it to offer traditional banking services. This significant move expands its reach and solidifies its position against established financial institutions.

Conseil d'État upholds Criteo's €40M GDPR fine
France's top court upholds €40M GDPR fine against ad tech giant Criteo. The ruling bolsters data privacy enforcement against major online trackers.

Joint call for an ambitious Digital Fairness Act to better protect people online
Consumer groups urge an ambitious Digital Fairness Act to shield all users online from harmful practices. This act will update EU consumer law, boosting legal certainty and fair competition across digital markets.

Fewer rules, more innovation? The miscalculation of the new Brussels
EU risks sacrificing fundamental rights for AI innovation. A new analysis warns Brussels' drive to "regulate better" may weaken protections, pushing Europe into a misunderstood competitiveness race.

Privacy defenders win Felipe Rodriquez Awards
Privacy advocates BOOS and Bert Hubert win awards for championing child privacy and Dutch digital sovereignty. Hubert's "Cloud Kootwijk" proposal urges a government-run cloud to reduce Big Tech dependence.

Rat und Parlament einig: Verbot für sexualisierte Deepfakes rückt näher
EU lawmakers agree to ban non-consensual deepfakes, incorporating the prohibition into the AI Act. This move tackles AI-generated non-consensual nude imagery through legislative action.

heise Offer: Digital Sovereignty in Practice – Making Cloud, AI, and Security Crisis-Proof
Germany's heise online highlights digital sovereignty strategies for Cloud, AI, and Security. The move aims to protect against geopolitical risks from tech giant dependence.

EU Cybersecurity Regulation Forces Embedded Systems Industry to Make Changes
EU's Cyber Resilience Act forces changes on embedded systems like industrial computers and medical devices. Companies must now proactively address cybersecurity risks for their products.

EU Commission undermines data protection of the digital wallet
EU Commission weakens data protection for digital wallets by diluting the "need-to-know" principle. This decision undermines a core strength of the upcoming EUDI Wallet for official documents.

Open formats win: EU Commission reacts to LibreOffice criticism
EU Commission embraces open formats, releasing CRA feedback templates as ODS files after LibreOffice critique. This move encourages broader participation in digital policy development.
