News - For Governments

The EU's digital euro project faces pressure from banks wanting a weaker version and a tight timeline. The European Central Bank plans a pilot next year, but the European Parliament still debates critical privacy issues.

Civil society launches a summit to counter "simplification" proposals threatening EU digital protections. The convening aims to centre public interest, data protection, and rights in the EU's vision for tech laws and practices.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) shows potential but faces criticism for lax enforcement by the European Commission. Gatekeepers continue to dominate digital markets due to political interference and a laissez-faire approach to its implementation.

EU lawmakers are wrestling with proposals for a Digital Euro, with a contentious "holding limits" feature temporarily shelved. Key issues like data protection and offline payment capabilities remain unresolved as the deadline for agreement looms.

noyb sues Hamburg data protection authority over inaction on PimEyes facial recognition. The DPA is refusing to act, claiming PimEyes is based in Dubai despite acknowledging its practices are illegal.

EU trilogue talks on AI Act reform failed, delaying loosened rules for AI in industry. Disputes over classifying industrial AI and banning non-consensual deepfakes continue, risking key protections.

EU Commission accuses Meta of not effectively keeping children under 13 away from Instagram and Facebook. Meta thereby violates the Digital Services Act (DSA) and must better identify risks for minors.

Greece's €4 million AI Smart Policing programme, including facial recognition, has been ruled unlawful by the Hellenic Police's data protection authority. The decision confirms concerns about data protection violations and misuse of AI technologies.

Commission urges EU Member States to accelerate rollout of secure age verification app by year-end. The app protects minors from harmful online content and can integrate with the EU Digital Identity Wallet.

AI expert discusses European legal requirements for transparency in AI systems. She highlights that not all "open" AI models are truly open source, and European legislation demands openness regarding model weights and data.

Brussels talks up digital sovereignty, but funding for crucial open-source infrastructure remains uncertain. NLnet Foundation supports developers building independent digital tools, from hardware to social media platforms, but urges more concrete action.

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.

Dutch government launches open-source code platform, code. overheid....

The Dutch government inked a framework agreement with STACKIT, a European cloud platform. This deal allows state organizations to use EU-based cloud services, bolstering digital autonomy and reducing reliance on non-European providers.

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.

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....

Netherlands launches consultation on AI Act implementation, establishing national oversight for the European Union's AI Regulation. This proposal ensures safe and reliable AI use while fostering innovation.

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.