News - For Consumers

Daily digest of all European digital development news

Talk on WhatsApp with other messaging apps: what this feature is, how it works, requirements and how to activate it
Talk on WhatsApp with other messaging apps: what this feature is, how it works, requirements and how to activate it

Talk on WhatsApp with other messaging apps: what this feature is, how it works, requirements and how to activate it

WhatsApp launches interoperability, enabling users to chat with other messaging apps within its platform. This feature rollout, driven by European regulations, allows users to communicate with other platforms directly from WhatsApp, despite not being available to all users yet.

November 22, 2025 at 12:01
Xataka
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Digital Omnibus: How Media Distort a Debate Out of Fear of Complexity
Digital Omnibus: How Media Distort a Debate Out of Fear of Complexity

Digital Omnibus: How Media Distort a Debate Out of Fear of Complexity

The EU's Digital Omnibus, designed to impact citizen rights, is being misrepresented in the media, focusing on cookie banner simplification. The actual law undermines data access, delays AI regulation, and broadens companies' data usage justifications.

November 20, 2025 at 17:58
netzpolitik.org
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FAQ on the "Digital Omnibus": What is the EU Commission planning regarding AI and data protection?
FAQ on the "Digital Omnibus": What is the EU Commission planning regarding AI and data protection?

FAQ on the "Digital Omnibus": What is the EU Commission planning regarding AI and data protection?

Brussels plans to delay rules for high-risk AI systems and weaken data protection with its "Digital Omnibus" package. Industry groups are applauding the move, but consumer advocates are sounding the alarm.

November 20, 2025 at 17:40
netzpolitik.org
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The only thing the European AI Law has achieved is leaving us crippled. The question is whether going back will be of any use.
The only thing the European AI Law has achieved is leaving us crippled. The question is whether going back will be of any use.

The only thing the European AI Law has achieved is leaving us crippled. The question is whether going back will be of any use.

The EU's AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, is criticized for hindering innovation and hindering competition in the AI sector. Critics argue the regulation slows down progress in a field where the US and China are rapidly advancing.

November 20, 2025 at 15:01
Xataka
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Justice condemns Meta to pay 479 million euros to Spanish media for unfair competition
Justice condemns Meta to pay 479 million euros to Spanish media for unfair competition

Justice condemns Meta to pay 479 million euros to Spanish media for unfair competition

Meta was ordered to pay 479 million euros to 87 Spanish news outlets for unfair competition by Madrid's Mercantile Court. The court found Meta used illicit personal data on Facebook and Instagram for behavioral advertising, violating GDPR.

November 20, 2025 at 12:28
Xataka
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Online proceedings in civil law: Digitalization in the judiciary disadvantages people
Online proceedings in civil law: Digitalization in the judiciary disadvantages people

Online proceedings in civil law: Digitalization in the judiciary disadvantages people

German lawmakers are pushing to accelerate court proceedings through digital transformation, aiming to ease citizen access to justice. However, critics claim the new law disadvantages defendants in civil cases....

November 20, 2025 at 09:53
netzpolitik.org
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Digital Omnibus: On a collision course with digital fundamental rights
Digital Omnibus: On a collision course with digital fundamental rights

Digital Omnibus: On a collision course with digital fundamental rights

Brussels’s digital omnibus regulation faces criticism, as it's seen as undermining fundamental digital rights rather than simplifying data protection. The planned revision of several digital laws, including the AI Act and GDPR, is widely viewed as a setback.

November 19, 2025 at 18:30
netzpolitik.org
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EU’s plan to simplify digital laws to benefit mainly large companies at the expense of consumers
EU’s plan to simplify digital laws to benefit mainly large companies at the expense of consumers

EU’s plan to simplify digital laws to benefit mainly large companies at the expense of consumers

Brussels faces criticism for a digital law proposal, as BEUC claims it prioritizes Big Tech over consumer rights. The plan includes weakening privacy rules and delaying AI regulations, potentially harming European startups and consumer protection.

November 19, 2025 at 15:32
BEUC
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Press Release: Commission’s Digital Omnibus is a major rollback of EU digital protections
Press Release: Commission’s Digital Omnibus is a major rollback of EU digital protections

Press Release: Commission’s Digital Omnibus is a major rollback of EU digital protections

Brussels is rolling back core digital protections with its new Digital Omnibus proposals, threatening the EU's rules-based system. The changes endanger the foundation of human rights and tech policy.

November 19, 2025 at 14:56
EDRI
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Europe’s cookie nightmare is crumbling
Europe’s cookie nightmare is crumbling

Europe’s cookie nightmare is crumbling

The EU plans to overhaul its cookie consent policies, aiming to drastically reduce the number of annoying pop-ups users face. New rules will allow users to set browser-level cookie preferences, simplifying the online experience across all of Europe.

November 19, 2025 at 14:28
The Verge Policy
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Why the Digital Omnibus puts GDPR and ePrivacy at risk
Why the Digital Omnibus puts GDPR and ePrivacy at risk

Why the Digital Omnibus puts GDPR and ePrivacy at risk

Brussels unveils its "Digital Omnibus" package, aiming to simplify digital rules, but risks weakening GDPR and ePrivacy. The package will amend the General Data Protection Regulation and the ePrivacy Directive.

November 19, 2025 at 13:56
EDRI
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Europe is scaling back its landmark privacy and AI laws
Europe is scaling back its landmark privacy and AI laws

Europe is scaling back its landmark privacy and AI laws

Brussels is scaling back GDPR and AI rules, bowing to industry and US pressure to revive economic growth. The revisions simplify cookie consent and extend grace periods for high-risk AI systems under the AI Act.

November 19, 2025 at 13:47
The Verge Policy
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Digital Omnibus: EU Commission wants to wreck core GDPR principles
Digital Omnibus: EU Commission wants to wreck core GDPR principles

Digital Omnibus: EU Commission wants to wreck core GDPR principles

Brussels proposes changes to GDPR rules that would lower protections for Europeans, according to a new report. The "Digital Omnibus" is the focus of the EU Commission's plans, which aim to alter current data privacy regulations.

November 19, 2025 at 13:30
noyb.eu
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BEUC welcomes the EU court's decision to uphold Amazon's designation as a Very Large Online Platform
BEUC welcomes the EU court's decision to uphold Amazon's designation as a Very Large Online Platform

BEUC welcomes the EU court's decision to uphold Amazon's designation as a Very Large Online Platform

The EU General Court upheld Amazon's designation as a Very Large Online Platform under the Digital Services Act. This ruling ensures Amazon must comply with the DSA, mitigating risks and protecting consumers from fraud.

November 19, 2025 at 11:59
BEUC
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Court backs the EU: Amazon fails with lawsuit against DSA classification
Court backs the EU: Amazon fails with lawsuit against DSA classification

Court backs the EU: Amazon fails with lawsuit against DSA classification

Amazon lost its court challenge against the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) designation. The ruling allows the EU to impose stricter obligations on tech companies with over 45 million users.

November 19, 2025 at 11:39
Heise Online
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Brussels investigates Amazon and Microsoft cloud services, the consequences could be significant
Brussels investigates Amazon and Microsoft cloud services, the consequences could be significant

Brussels investigates Amazon and Microsoft cloud services, the consequences could be significant

Brussels probes Amazon and Microsoft's cloud services to determine if they violate the Digital Markets Act. The investigation could have major implications for the tech giants' operations within the European Union.

November 18, 2025 at 20:14
Presse-Citron
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Summit on European Digital Sovereignty: Turning Point for "Innovation Leadership"
Summit on European Digital Sovereignty: Turning Point for "Innovation Leadership"

Summit on European Digital Sovereignty: Turning Point for "Innovation Leadership"

German and French leaders are shifting their digital sovereignty strategy towards "innovation leadership" at the EU summit. They aim to reduce economic dependence on non-European tech providers by dismantling existing regulations.

November 18, 2025 at 18:25
netzpolitik.org
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This new Starlink offer available in France could well make you fall for Elon Musk's satellite internet
This new Starlink offer available in France could well make you fall for Elon Musk's satellite internet

This new Starlink offer available in France could well make you fall for Elon Musk's satellite internet

Starlink is expanding its reach in France with a new offer to attract users in areas without fiber internet. The company is offering free professional antenna installation to boost its appeal.

November 18, 2025 at 17:33
Presse-Citron
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heise+ | Designing AI models according to the requirements of the AI Act
heise+ | Designing AI models according to the requirements of the AI Act

heise+ | Designing AI models according to the requirements of the AI Act

ENISA, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, releases a framework providing practical examples for designing, deploying, and operating AI models. This framework aims to help developers navigate the AI Act's requirements.

November 18, 2025 at 10:30
Heise Online
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Digital Markets Act: EU Targets Cloud Power of US Tech Companies
Digital Markets Act: EU Targets Cloud Power of US Tech Companies

Digital Markets Act: EU Targets Cloud Power of US Tech Companies

Brussels is investigating the market power of major cloud providers, potentially imposing restrictions. This follows recent outages in cloud services, highlighting concerns about market dominance.

November 18, 2025 at 05:15
Heise Online
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