News
Daily digest of all European digital development news
Users still stuck in the mud: An analysis of Meta’s 2026 changes to its consent-for-ads mechanism against EU law
Consumers group BEUC argues Meta's latest ad consent changes still defy EU digital laws. The Digital Markets Act and GDPR are cited, with calls for hefty penalties against Meta.
Meta's latest consent-for-ads model still unlawful according to consumer groups’ analysis
Consumer groups find Meta's latest ad model still violates EU law. The model fails to offer genuine consent options for personalized ads, potentially breaking DMA and GDPR rules.
Madrid’s Webel closes €4.3 million pre-Series A round to evolve into a home services “super app” across Europe
Madrid’s Webel secures €4. 3M pre-Series A funding to build a European home services “super app....
Another deep tech chip startup becomes a unicorn: Frore hits $1.64B
Frore secures $143M, hitting $1. 64B valuation with liquid-cooling chip tech spurred by Nvidia's CEO....
Ternary Therapeutics targets “undruggable” proteins with AI-designed molecular glues, raising €4.1 million
London-based Ternary Therapeutics secures €4. 1M for its AI platform creating new medicines....
Goodbye cash? The digital euro is coming soon to France, and it's not unanimous
Digital Euro is set to launch in France, sparking debate among banks. This new digital currency aims to transform daily transactions and European financial systems.
Cabify and Uber have a serious problem in Barcelona: the new "Taxi Law" from Catalonia seeks to exclude VTCs
Catalonia's new taxi law targets ride-sharing VTCs like Uber and Cabify, potentially barring them from Barcelona. The regional government advances the regulation, supported by key parties, to protect traditional taxis.
Mikael da Costa, founder and CEO of WP SEO AI, joins the EU-Startups Summit 2026!
WP SEO AI's founder to keynote EU-Startups Summit, discussing AI's impact on search visibility. The AI-powered SEO startup boasts over 2,000 customers and €12....
Right to broadband: Caught in Elon Musk's safety net
Elon Musk's Starlink fills a void in Germany's internet access rights, where few can secure faster connections. The satellite service becomes a crucial backup for underserved households struggling with slow, unreliable infrastructure.
Free Software Foundation calls for free-range LLMs rather than factory-farmed AI
Free Software Foundation urges open-source LLMs over proprietary models, warning against Big Tech control. This call for "free-range AI" seeks to ensure user freedom and innovation against centralized platforms.
AI Update Compact: AI Act, Groundsource, NemoClaw, Perplexity Computer
EU lawmakers push AI Act forward, targeting AI development and deployment risks. Perplexity AI announces new desktop computer, shifting focus from pure search to integrated AI experiences.
Civil society calls for an ambitious Digital Fairness Act on World Consumer Rights Day
Civil society urges a strong Digital Fairness Act, targeting manipulative online models and harmful practices. This call amplifies existing recommendations for a rights-based approach to digital fairness.
Oxford Medical Simulation secures €5.78 million to tackle healthcare training gap with virtual reality
UK startup Oxford Medical Simulation secures €5. 78M for VR healthcare training....
Omnibus AI Act: Deadline Extension and Deepfake Ban
EU lawmakers delay high-risk AI bans, adding a crucial deepfake prohibition. This shift impacts AI deployment timelines and content integrity regulations across the bloc.
Choice secures $7.1M Series A to expand its restaurant operating system across Europe
Prague-based SaaS platform Choice secures $7. 1M Series A to consolidate restaurant tech....
WhiteBridge AI raises $3M seed round
Vilnius-based WhiteBridge AI secures €2. 6M seed funding to expand its people-search and digital identity platform....
WhiteBridge AI raises $3M to redefine standards in people search and research
WhiteBridge AI raises $3M to build an AI-powered search engine for verifying online information about individuals. This funding will accelerate the company's mission to bring clarity and control to the fragmented digital identity landscape.
European tech weekly recap: More than 85 tech funding deals worth over €4B
European tech secures over €4B in funding from 85 deals. Major rounds propelled software, AI, and fintech sectors forward....
New tool for government cloud choices
Dutch government launches a new tool to assess cloud service risks, enhancing digital sovereignty. The DICTU instrument helps officials choose services based on data control, transparency, and legal context.
If the controversy is that AI steals works in its training, the European Union has the solution: that they license them
EU proposes licensing copyrighted works for AI training, tackling "borrowed" content. AI firms must pay creators, moving from unauthorized use to regulated data acquisition.