News - For Governments

The European Commission launched an investigation into Google for potentially violating the Digital Markets Act by demoting media publishers' content. The probe focuses on Google's "site reputation abuse policy," which the Commission suspects impacts publishers' ability to conduct business.

Meta secures a limited postponement in a lawsuit brought by Bits of Freedom regarding user feed choices on Instagram and Facebook. The court granted the delay after Meta argued it couldn't implement the required changes within the original two-week timeframe.

The EU's AI Act faces criticism for loopholes enabling unchecked AI use in national security and law enforcement, risking mass surveillance. EDRi affiliate, Danes je nov dan, recommends Slovenia adopt stricter safeguards to address these issues.

Dutch organizations are encouraged to assess their digital resilience against ransomware attacks using a new readiness checklist. The checklist helps organizations evaluate current security measures and identify areas for improvement in prevention, crisis recovery, and governance.

Civil society groups are urging the European Commission to halt the Digital Omnibus, a proposed package they claim will weaken key EU laws. The coalition of 127 organizations says the proposals would be the biggest rollback of digital rights in EU history.

A new civil society coalition demands increased commitment to open networks, urging more digital sovereignty in Europe. The group, including Wikimedia Deutschland and Mastodon gGmbH, will present its demands at the upcoming Digital Sovereignty Summit in Berlin.

The EU's AI hype is under fire as scientists criticize Ursula von der Leyen for echoing tech giants' overblown claims. They urge her to focus on AI's potential missteps instead of fueling unrealistic expectations of Artificial General Intelligence.

Brussels's privacy watchdog, Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), reports 75% of websites have fixed misleading cookie banners after warnings. Enforcement actions will now target the remaining holdouts to ensure user control over data.

European data privacy expert Max Schrems slams the European Commission's planned GDPR reform, calling it a fundamental rights demolition. The reform, revealed in a leaked document, threatens to overturn 40 years of European fundamental rights doctrine.

Brussels plans a major overhaul of European digital regulations, presenting a "digital omnibus" proposal in November. The plan aims to simplify rules related to data protection, data usage, cybersecurity, and AI regulations.

EU staff are warned of potential risks from tracking, following revelations about location data sold by data brokers. A new internal email from the EU Commission advises employees on how to protect themselves from surveillance through mobile data.

German regulators certified Consenter, a new consent management platform, to give users more control over their data online. The service aims to simplify managing cookie permissions, but its effectiveness depends on website and tracking firm compliance.

The European Parliament is divided on the digital Euro, with debates intensifying due to disagreements over its implementation. While the Parliament argues, the European Central Bank continues advancing the digital currency's development, pushing forward with the project.

Brussels is reportedly planning major cuts to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as part of its "digital omnibus" proposal. The move aims to simplify digital regulations but could weaken data protection for Europeans.

The EU Council may scrap mandatory chat control, potentially ending years of debate over scanning private communications. A compromise proposal from Denmark could secure agreement, with Germany signaling approval.

The European Parliament approved a new Europol Regulation, prompting strong criticism of potential mass surveillance. Civil society and the European Data Protection Supervisor raised warnings about the Facilitators Package expansion, which passed with 59 votes in favor.

Brussels kicks off work on a code of practice for marking and labeling AI-generated content to combat misinformation. The initiative, driven by the AI Act, will involve independent experts and stakeholders for seven months.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is showing early consumer benefits after eighteen months of implementation, giving users more digital choices. iOS users can now select default browsers and apps, make contactless payments outside Apple Pay, and create Google accounts without Gmail.

Brussels faces a security threat as adtech data exposes the EU and NATO to espionage. Commercial datasets with 278 million locations, including EU officials and NATO headquarters, allow for tracking and potential spying.

Millions of Europeans' mobile phone location data, gathered for advertising, is being sold and could be used for espionage. Even top EU officials are potentially affected by this data breach, raising concerns about data protection failures.