News - For Governments

Big Tech's lobbying in Brussels reached a record €151 million, surpassing all other industries. This surge in spending highlights the industry's opposition to EU digital regulations.

Prague's Václav Havel Airport shut down facial recognition cameras due to pressure from the AI Act and criticism. The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection confirmed the illegality of the practice after years of debate.

Austrian Data Protection Authority faces budget cuts, leading to hampered data protection capabilities. NGOs are complaining to the European Commission about Austria's failure to provide sufficient funding, impacting millions.

German police could soon gain expanded surveillance powers, including AI-powered video monitoring and biometric searches. The proposed changes to Saxony's police law are facing opposition, with the government needing support to pass them.

EDRi urges the European Commission to tackle manipulative design in the upcoming Digital Fairness Act, to protect users' fundamental rights. The organization calls for strong, binding rules to ban exploitative features and reinforce Europe’s digital rulebook.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) urges organizations to act on AI literacy, publishing an updated guide. The guide details legal obligations and offers a practical action plan for organizations deploying AI systems.

Civil society groups are protesting the appointment of Niamh Sweeney, a former Meta employee, as Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner. Over 40 NGOs, including Access Now and EDRi, signed an open letter voicing their concerns about the decision.

The EU Commission found TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are not providing sufficient data access to researchers, with content reporting too difficult on the latter two. The EU is demanding improvements, or the platforms could face penalties under the Digital Services Act.

The European Commission found Meta in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) regarding content moderation, signaling a move towards enforcement. BEUC welcomes the initial steps, advocating for rigorous monitoring to protect consumers from unsafe and illegal content on platforms.

Brussels launches a new webinar series to boost its Apply AI Strategy, aiming to accelerate AI adoption in key sectors. The strategy seeks to connect infrastructure with the needs of industrial and public sectors.

Brussels announced its first Annual Progress Report, detailing efforts to simplify and enforce digital regulations. The report, covering January to July 2025, highlights the upcoming Digital Simplification Package and implementation efforts for the Digital Services Act and AI Act.

The European Data Protection Board is assessing the digital euro's potential for anonymous, offline transactions. The study explores whether the digital euro can offer a payment experience akin to cash.

The EU is hosting a webinar on November 25th, focusing on AI innovation for SMEs and startups, as well as the AI Act. The event will cover AI sandboxes, real-world testing, the AI Act Service Desk, and European Digital Innovation Hubs.

Brussels rolls out a €3M Creative Europe call to fund cross-border media literacy projects. The initiative aims to strengthen societal defenses against disinformation, opening October 23, 2025, and closing March 11, 2026.

Mobile internet prices in the EU dropped by 14. 9% in 2023, while fixed broadband fell by 3%, according to a new report....

The European Commission is launching new subsidy calls under the Digital Europe Programme, offering €204 million for digital innovation projects. These initiatives target AI, data, cloud, and digital skills, with application deadlines in early 2026.

A Dutch court ruled that Meta must respect user choices on its apps, a win for digital rights advocates. The judge sided with Bits of Freedom, stating Meta violates the law and needs to adjust its apps accordingly.

Brussels views the Digital Markets Act as a success, advocating for its expansion and strengthened provisions despite initial enforcement challenges. The DMA has become a global model for modern antitrust policy.

Slovenia will establish a national AI registry following advocacy from Danes je nov dan, aiming for public oversight of government AI systems. This move follows rising concerns about the potential misuse of AI in the public sector.

Deepfake ads on Facebook and other platforms are promoting fraudulent online investments, leading people to lose money. These scams, despite being illegal under the Digital Services Act, are proliferating due to AI-generated content.