News - For Consumers

Brussels discusses digital sovereignty, but funding for related projects remains uncertain. NLnet Foundation’s Michiel Leenaars highlights the need for controllable and replaceable technology to foster independence....

EU consumer group BEUC urges trilogues to preserve AI Act safeguards against the AI Omnibus. Weakened protections risk heightening consumer risks and eroding trust in digital services.

Heidelberg-based Aleph Alpha merges with Canadian AI firm Cohere, aiming to build an independent alternative to Silicon Valley giants. The combined entity prioritizes data protection, seeking to counter US dominance in the AI sector.

Hannover schools halt digitalization due to incorrect Microsoft 365 licenses, rendering over €300,000 in software unusable. Classes continue with alternative solutions amid the data privacy contract issue.

European privacy watchdogs urge the European Commission to examine Israel's mandatory registration for aid workers. This obligation forces organizations to violate GDPR or halt aid, jeopardizing aid workers and their families.

Germany must deliver on the EU health data space, ePA, and EUDI Wallet initiatives to connect Europe's health data. Unresolved questions regarding emergency access and governance remain key challenges.

European payments service Wero, promising digital independence, uses Amazon AWS cloud infrastructure. This contradicts its stated goal of being a European alternative to US payment providers....

The EU's planned age verification app suffers a major security flaw, allowing data breaches through simple configuration file manipulation. This expensive and error-prone app now poses a significant privacy risk.

New EU guidelines clarify the use of AI in research, accelerating innovations through the GDPR. Scientific institutions gain more clarity on consent and purpose limitation.

Google excludes Europe from its most advanced Gemini AI feature, "Personal Intelligence." This move comes as the EU tightens regulatory controls on big tech.

EU proposes third-party AI in WhatsApp, eyeing cost savings through autonomous delivery. Snapchat eyes AI-driven layoffs amid a potential ban on new US data centers.

The EU mandates phone repairability, allowing battery replacement from 2027. This sustainability push targets electronic waste and strengthens consumer rights.

EDRi details recent EU digital rights developments, focusing on cracking open new policy initiatives. The latest bi-weekly newsletter covers the most pressing digital rights news within the European Union.

Brussels proposes Digital Omnibus changes that risk weakening GDPR, ePrivacy, and AI Act safeguards. The proposed "simplification" could introduce a "move fast and break things" logic, impacting fundamental rights.

The article discusses a record number of data protection complaints and breaches reported by state data protection authorities. The surge is attributed to AI, inexpensive technology, and video surveillance, pushing authorities to their limits.

Privacy Camp 2025 in Brussels convened experts to discuss resilience and resistance amid deregulation. The event explored pressing issues for policymakers, activists, and academics from Europe and globally.

Croatia launches Europe's first commercial robotaxi service, enabling autonomous trip bookings and payments in Zagreb. The initiative marks a pioneering step for autonomous mobility on the continent.

German data protection authorities found serious violations at a popular dating app. The app allegedly shared precise user location data with advertising firms without consent, posing a significant risk.

Revolut launches AIR, an AI assistant integrated into its app for conversational finance management. The tool analyzes spending, blocks cards, tracks investments, and aids travel by replacing menu navigation with natural language....

Bits of Freedom urges the Dutch Parliament to scrutinize the European Commission's "Digital Omnibuses" plans. The group warns these proposals, pushed rapidly, could weaken GDPR by redefining personal data and risk fundamental rights.