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

EU Parliament: Social Democrats want to examine digital regulation
EU Social Democrats seek to understand the Digital Services Act's implementation by forming an investigation committee. This move follows the first penalty under the DSA: a €120 million fine against X.

Press Release: EU stands up to Big Tech with €120 million fine to X
The European Commission fined X €120 million for violating the Digital Services Act, a major win for digital regulation. This action underscores the EU's commitment to holding online platforms accountable for misleading users and undermining democracy.

Meta commits to give EU users choice on personalised ads under DMA
Meta will offer EU users a choice to see fewer personalized ads on Facebook and Instagram to comply with the Digital Markets Act. This move follows the European Commission's acknowledgement of Meta's commitment to the new regulation.

EU-Korea Digital Trade Agreement: Bridging digital markets for the benefit of consumers
The EU and Korea finalized a Digital Trade Agreement, aiming to strengthen consumer rights in online markets. The agreement focuses on consumer protection, data privacy, and product safety, creating a framework for cross-border digital trade.

Searching in government documents now easier
The Dutch Open Overheid website relaunches with a new search function, making it easier to find government documents. The updated site offers improved navigation and over 625,000 downloadable documents.

DSA: EU Commission imposes 120 million euro fine against X
Brussels slapped X with a €120 million fine for violating the Digital Services Act due to transparency failures. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, faces criticism over misleading blue checkmarks, inadequate advertising data, and insufficient data access for researchers.

DSA enforcement decision against X and TikTok commitments good news for consumers
The European Commission found that X violated key transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act. These include deceptive design and opaque advertising practices, which pose serious risks to consumers....

Commission fines X €120 million under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission slapped X with a €120 million fine for violating transparency rules under the Digital Services Act. The platform's deceptive "blue checkmark," advertising repository failures, and lack of data access for researchers led to the penalty.

Commission accepts TikTok's commitments on advertising transparency under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission secured TikTok's commitment to boost advertising transparency under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The platform must provide full ad content, update repositories within 24 hours, and offer detailed targeting criteria.

When data relate to us?
The CJEU ruling reinforces the importance of GDPR in the age of AI and data spaces. The judgment clarifies what constitutes personal data, impacting how privacy-enhancing technologies will be governed.

Government-wide monitor Generative AI
The Dutch government's first Generative AI monitor revealed a surge in AI adoption across public sector organizations. Applications jumped from 8 to 81 in a year, with municipalities leading in chatbots and internal AI assistants....

Interview with the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection: "The current debate is going in the wrong direction"
The German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection criticizes EU data policy, saying the current debate is misguided. She argues that reforms require a societal goal, adding that data protection law isn't fulfilling its function.

Transparency register with gaps: AI use by public administration remains opaque
The German IT Planning Council plans to expand the national AI transparency register across all levels of administration. Despite this, the extent and risks of AI use by public administrations remain unclear.

Advertisements: ECJ holds platforms liable for data protection violations
Brussels' top court ruled that online marketplaces share responsibility for user-posted content violating data protection laws. This decision means platforms must proactively check ads for sensitive data before publishing, impacting liability....

Municipalities jointly tackle AI, cloud and digital security
Dutch municipalities unanimously agreed to collectively address AI, cloud, and digital security challenges. This initiative follows the national digitalization strategy, aiming for at least 80% collective action across various digital themes.

Building a sovereign cloud together for the entire government
Dutch government initiatives aim to build a sovereign cloud for the public sector to reduce reliance on foreign providers. This push is led by Ron Kolkman, who highlights cloud technology's crucial role in the country's digital infrastructure.

AP launches campaign to help organizations with a good cookie policy
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) launches a three-week public campaign urging organizations to review their cookie policies. The campaign will run across various media channels including radio, websites, and newspapers.

Commission seeks feedback on draft implementing act to establish AI regulatory sandboxes under the AI Act
Brussels launches a public feedback phase on draft rules for establishing AI regulatory sandboxes, a key element of the AI Act. This initiative allows providers to test AI systems under supervision, with feedback accepted until January 6, 2026.

Information session: Protocols for reserving rights from text and data mining under the AI Act and the GPAI Code of Practice
Brussels launches a stakeholder consultation on protocols for reserving rights from text and data mining under the AI Act, starting December 1st. The online information session aims to present the consultation process to interested stakeholders.

Digital Sovereignty: How the EU Obscures Free Software
The EU's digital sovereignty push, discussed at a recent summit, emphasizes European tech independence. However, civil society groups argue that open-source solutions are more crucial than origin, as Denmark moves to wean itself off Microsoft, spurred by political pressures.
