News
Daily digest of all European digital development news
AI Act: Trilogue negotiations on relaxed AI rules failed
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.
Age verification is nothing. Greece wants to completely eliminate anonymity online
Grecia quiere eliminar por completo el anonimato en internet. El gobierno busca exigir la revelación de identidad en plataformas digitales para combatir deepfakes y desinformación.
Gifting marketplace Flowwow rebrands to Udora, separating from Russian business and raising €8.5 million for European growth
Gifting marketplace Udora raises €8. 5 million, focusing on European growth and AI personalisation....
EU vs. Meta: Facebook and Instagram must take tougher action against child accounts
EU-Kommission wirft Meta vor, Kinder unter 13 Jahren nicht wirksam von Instagram und Facebook fernzuhalten. Meta verstößt damit gegen den Digital Services Act (DSA) und muss Risiken für Minderjährige besser identifizieren.
Greece’s AI Smart Policing system ruled unlawful after €4 million public spending\
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 Member States to rollout EU age verification app
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.
No US funding, no problem: Málaga’s Freepik relaunches as Maginific with €200 million ARR
Málaga's Freepik relaunches as AI platform Magnific, reporting €196 million ARR. The company now integrates image, video, audio generation, and collaboration tools in one environment....
AI and open source, what's the deal?
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.
European digital sovereignty: „Any dependency is a bad thing“
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.
European digital sovereignty: "Any form of dependence is bad"
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....
Brussels orders Google to share Android's AI sandbox with the other kids
Brussels orders Google to share its Android AI sandbox with competitors. The European Commission is investigating if Google's AI practices violate the Digital Markets Act.
Patronus raises €11 million to turn senior emergency smartwatches from ‘bedside decoration’ into daily-worn devices
Berlin-based Patronus raises €11 million to enhance senior safety smartwatches with AI companionship. The funding will boost daily device wear and address senior loneliness.
Industrial cleaning robot developer KEMARO advances Series B with €4.2 million pre-closing
Swiss robotics firm KEMARO secures €4. 2 million in a Series B pre-closing to fund international growth, targeting the US market and expanding its product line....
AI Omnibus: Next Steps
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.
Atech raises €681k with Lovable backing to make hardware prototyping more accessible
Copenhagen AI hardware startup Atech secures €681k pre-Seed funding. The company aims to develop an AI platform for natural-language hardware design and prototyping.
Semiconductors core to Tyndall’s five-year strategy
Tyndall National Institute aligns its five-year strategy with Ireland's obligations under the European Chips Act. The institute's plan supports government policies like Silicon Island and Impact 2030, focusing on semiconductor advancements.
Soft launch open source code platform for the government
Dutch government launches open-source code platform, code. overheid....
Why Cohere is merging with Aleph Alpha
Canadian AI startup Cohere is acquiring Germany-based Aleph Alpha, backed by Schwarz Group, to create a sovereign enterprise AI alternative. This move challenges US dominance in the AI landscape.
Cohere buys Aleph Alpha: German-Canadian AI against US dominance
Heidelberg-based Aleph Alpha merges with Canadian AI firm Cohere, aiming to build an independent alternative to Silicon Valley giants. The combined entity prioritizes data protection, seeking to counter US dominance in the AI sector.
Cohere acquires, merges with Germany-based startup to create a ‘transatlantic AI powerhouse’
Cohere merges with Germany's Aleph Alpha, creating a transatlantic AI powerhouse. This strategic move aims to bolster AI development and deployment for businesses and governments across continents.