News - For Consumers

Daily digest of all European digital development news

PSP issues alert to everyone due to a scam
PSP issues alert to everyone due to a scam

PSP issues alert to everyone due to a scam

Portugal's Ministry of Health warns of fake messages targeting citizens with fraudulent payment requests and malicious links. This scam exploits trust in public health services, risking personal data and finances.

March 4, 2026 at 15:00
Pplware
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EDRi-gram, 4 March 2026
EDRi-gram, 4 March 2026

EDRi-gram, 4 March 2026

EU pushes Chat Control legislation, risking end-to-end encryption. Digital Fairness Act aims to disrupt extractive business models impacting user rights.

March 4, 2026 at 10:13
EDRI
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Outsourcing crime control: How EU anti-money laundering rules threaten financial privacy
Outsourcing crime control: How EU anti-money laundering rules threaten financial privacy

Outsourcing crime control: How EU anti-money laundering rules threaten financial privacy

EU shifts AML/CFT burden to private firms, creating extensive financial surveillance. Revised rules, set to take effect mid-2027, expand this system, impacting ordinary citizens.

March 4, 2026 at 09:30
EDRI
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What's New in My Citizen Folder: all the new things you can do after its March 2026 update
What's New in My Citizen Folder: all the new things you can do after its March 2026 update

What's New in My Citizen Folder: all the new things you can do after its March 2026 update

Spain's "Mi Carpeta Ciudadana" app adds new mobile services for unemployment benefits and marriage certificates. This update from the Ministry for Digital Transformation expands access to public administration information.

March 3, 2026 at 13:53
Xataka
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Tricorder Technology: Vodafone uses 5G antennas for object recognition
Tricorder Technology: Vodafone uses 5G antennas for object recognition

Tricorder Technology: Vodafone uses 5G antennas for object recognition

Vodafone deploys 5G antennas for object detection, transforming mobile networks into precise sensors. This ISAC technology promises advanced capabilities even before 6G emerges.

March 3, 2026 at 11:47
Heise Online
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The influence of Snapchat's gamification features on youth
The influence of Snapchat's gamification features on youth

The influence of Snapchat's gamification features on youth

Dutch research reveals Snapchat's gamification features pressure youth, increasing screen time. Policy advisors are using these findings to push for youth control over social media attention and content.

March 2, 2026 at 14:00
Bits of Freedom
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Chargebacks are the silent hemorrhage of e-commerce. A Catalan startup is making money by plugging it
Chargebacks are the silent hemorrhage of e-commerce. A Catalan startup is making money by plugging it

Chargebacks are the silent hemorrhage of e-commerce. A Catalan startup is making money by plugging it

Catalan startup Kloutit uses AI to combat e-commerce chargebacks, securing nearly 200 clients. The company now operates in nine countries, aiding platforms like Wallapop and Cabify.

March 1, 2026 at 16:30
Xataka
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We don't know what to do with the old coal mines. Switzerland's idea is to turn them into a giant "battery"
We don't know what to do with the old coal mines. Switzerland's idea is to turn them into a giant "battery"

We don't know what to do with the old coal mines. Switzerland's idea is to turn them into a giant "battery"

Swiss energy firm Alpiq transforms abandoned Spanish coal mines into giant hydroelectric "batteries." The €147M project repurposes former mining sites in El Bierzo for energy storage.

March 1, 2026 at 15:30
Xataka
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heise+ | Digital Sovereignty on Smartphones: Custom ROMs at a Glance
heise+ | Digital Sovereignty on Smartphones: Custom ROMs at a Glance

heise+ | Digital Sovereignty on Smartphones: Custom ROMs at a Glance

Custom ROMs offer European users digital sovereignty, locking out Big Tech from smartphones. This empowers individuals to reclaim control over their mobile data and privacy.

March 1, 2026 at 08:00
Heise Online
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Appeal by Data Protection Authorities: EU should "completely and definitively" abandon chat control
Appeal by Data Protection Authorities: EU should "completely and definitively" abandon chat control

Appeal by Data Protection Authorities: EU should "completely and definitively" abandon chat control

German data watchdogs urge EU lawmakers to abandon chat surveillance mandates in CSA regulation talks. They warn that mass monitoring and breaking end-to-end encryption imperil all citizens' communication security.

February 27, 2026 at 15:16
netzpolitik.org
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End of bureaucracy in Europe? Companies will be able to register in 48 hours in any Member State
End of bureaucracy in Europe? Companies will be able to register in 48 hours in any Member State

End of bureaucracy in Europe? Companies will be able to register in 48 hours in any Member State

EU launches EU Inc to slash company registration to 48 hours online across member states. This digital initiative aims to boost European competitiveness amid geopolitical challenges.

February 27, 2026 at 13:00
Pplware
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Police Law Lower Saxony: Constitutional concerns regarding planned surveillance measures
Police Law Lower Saxony: Constitutional concerns regarding planned surveillance measures

Police Law Lower Saxony: Constitutional concerns regarding planned surveillance measures

Niedersachsen's police law draft faces constitutional challenges over proposed AI surveillance powers. Experts warn these measures risk violating fundamental rights, potentially falling foul of the EU's AI Act.

February 27, 2026 at 12:45
netzpolitik.org
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Online ID: The eID is dead, long live the eID
Online ID: The eID is dead, long live the eID

Online ID: The eID is dead, long live the eID

Germany's digital ID struggles as PIN resets go offline, hindering adoption. New Sparkassen app services and a citizen communication solution may finally revive the electronic ID's potential.

February 27, 2026 at 11:57
netzpolitik.org
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S/4HANA: Some companies are planning the transition only at the end of 2030
S/4HANA: Some companies are planning the transition only at the end of 2030

S/4HANA: Some companies are planning the transition only at the end of 2030

SAP S/4HANA upgrades face delays as companies prioritize cost-efficiency. Many firms now plan their transition only by the end of 2030.

February 27, 2026 at 11:31
Heise Online
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Kommentar: Warum wir immer noch MS Teams kaufen, obwohl wir Nextcloud haben
Kommentar: Warum wir immer noch MS Teams kaufen, obwohl wir Nextcloud haben

Kommentar: Warum wir immer noch MS Teams kaufen, obwohl wir Nextcloud haben

German businesses and authorities possess sovereign digital alternatives like Nextcloud, yet fail to adopt them. Decision-makers' lack of courage hinders the crucial shift towards European digital independence.

February 27, 2026 at 11:05
Heise Online
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ProtectEU: Brussels' Digital Armament Against Terrorism
ProtectEU: Brussels' Digital Armament Against Terrorism

ProtectEU: Brussels' Digital Armament Against Terrorism

EU launches ProtectEU initiative, leveraging AI, crypto-tracking, and 3D printing research. This digital upgrade aims to combat evolving terrorist threats shifting to online spaces.

February 26, 2026 at 18:42
Heise Online
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Telekom to integrate AI assistants into mobile network
Telekom to integrate AI assistants into mobile network

Telekom to integrate AI assistants into mobile network

Deutsche Telekom pilots AI assistant for mobile calls, integrating AI into its network. The company also plans its own AI-powered smart glasses.

February 26, 2026 at 18:15
Heise Online
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Google might reshuffle search results to try to dodge fines in the EU
Google might reshuffle search results to try to dodge fines in the EU

Google might reshuffle search results to try to dodge fines in the EU

Google to test search result changes across Europe to comply with EU antitrust charges. Rival services for hotels and flights will rank higher, prioritizing competition over Google's own offerings.

February 26, 2026 at 16:18
The Verge Policy
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Interview on personal identification numbers: "Preventing the transparent citizen not only legally but also technically"
Interview on personal identification numbers: "Preventing the transparent citizen not only legally but also technically"

Interview on personal identification numbers: "Preventing the transparent citizen not only legally but also technically"

Austria's approach to unique citizen identifiers offers better data protection than Germany's plan, preventing a "transparent citizen." This method aims to digitize administration without compromising privacy.

February 26, 2026 at 13:48
netzpolitik.org
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Threema becomes quantum-safe: Partnership with IBM Research
Threema becomes quantum-safe: Partnership with IBM Research

Threema becomes quantum-safe: Partnership with IBM Research

Swiss messenger Threema partners with IBM Research to make chats quantum-proof against future supercomputers. This initiative aims to secure user privacy against advanced computing threats.

February 26, 2026 at 10:45
Heise Online
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