News
Daily digest of all European digital development news

EDRi-gram, 16 July 2026
The European Commission backs social media bans. Apple faces accountability in new digital rights updates.

EDPB issues 3 new guidelines on scraping, anonymization, and blockchain
The EDPB published three new guidelines on data scraping for generative AI training, data anonymization, and blockchain use. These guidelines address critical issues in data processing across the European Union.

EU forces Meta to its knees: ChatGPT is running again in WhatsApp chat
EU pressure forces Meta to allow ChatGPT integration back into WhatsApp for European users. The AI chatbot was previously blocked by the platform for a month.

HTG Medical raises €450k and secures MDR certification to automate ICU urine monitoring
Czech medtech startup HTG Medical raises €450k, securing EU MDR certification for its automated ICU urine monitoring device. The HTG Urogram now clears for European and global markets, aiming to save nurses valuable time.

Moneybox is Europe’s newest unicorn, and it’s testing London’s new private market to prove it
Moneybox is Europe’s newest unicorn, valued at $1. 1bn after staff sold shares on London's new private market....

ECB names 36 payment firms for the digital euro pilot
The European Central Bank names 36 payment firms, including Deutsche Bank and Revolut, for the digital euro pilot. This 12-month trial begins in late 2027, testing transactions before they become legal tender.

Revolut, SumUp and Stripe to take part in digital euro pilot
Revolut, Stripe, and SumUp will join a pilot for the digital euro, commencing in late 2027. Thirty-six payment service providers, including UniCredit and Deutsche Bank, were selected for the European Central Bank's initiative.

Commission collects feedback to define EU's position for the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2027
The European Commission is collecting feedback for the EU's position at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027. Stakeholders can submit views to shape the Union's stance on international radio spectrum allocation and satellite orbit.

Why TensorX believes Europe's AI race will be decided by who owns the GPUs
Dublin-based TensorX is building sovereign AI infrastructure across Europe, focusing on securing GPUs and data centres for AI deployment. The company provides private AI inference on dedicated Nvidia GPUs, ensuring data stays within European jurisdiction with zero retention for regulated sectors.

Revolut and ElevenLabs among first bets from Aspire11’s €100 million capital deployment
Aspire11 deploys €100M into Revolut and ElevenLabs, backing European pension funds' move into VC. The fund aims to bridge innovation with capital, investing in growth companies shaping the future economy.

WhatsApp removed ChatGPT, but Europe just brought it back by force
WhatsApp brings ChatGPT back to users across the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The return follows a period where the AI was removed from the popular messaging platform.

Netherlands leading digital government large EU countries
Nederland ranks eighth among EU member states in the eGovernment Benchmark 2026. Despite a strong digital public services foundation, challenges remain in digital innovation and AI adoption.

When the facts change, adequacy must be reviewed
EDRi urges the European Commission to reassess the EU-US adequacy decision post-US Supreme Court ruling. The decision impacts safeguards for personal data transferred to the United States.

€300 million for Iberian BioTech and DeepTech as CriteriaCaixa rebrands its VC arm
CriteriaCaixa rebrands its VC arm, investing €300 million in Iberian BioTech and DeepTech firms. The funds will prioritize Spain and Portugal, selectively expanding to Europe and North America.

Acurio Ventures launches €115M fund to unlock liquidity in Europe's VC secondary market
Acurio Ventures launches a €115M European fund for VC secondary transactions, aiming to unlock liquidity in a nascent market. The fund targets smaller deals below €20 million, focusing on mature VC funds with clear exit plans.

EU will end children's free access to social networks: "they are not a toy"
The European Commission will propose new rules after summer to restrict children's access to social media, with Ursula von der Leyen stating "social networks are not a toy." This aims to fundamentally alter how younger individuals engage with online platforms.

Social media limits are coming for teens across Europe
The EU is considering new social media restrictions for teenagers, potentially including age limits and mandatory harm assessments. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that legislation could be proposed within months.

Special panel report: Child safety online protecting and empowering minors in a digital world
European Commission unveils child safety report focusing on online protection. Recommendations address minors' digital challenges, social media use, and empowerment.

Swiss Army bans Microsoft for German OpenDesk solution
Swiss Army bans Microsoft for German OpenDesk solution due to cloud coercion and espionage fears. Sensitive data will not be stored on US servers.

Fritz update forces controversial data protection agreement
Fritz GmbH's FritzOS 8. 25 update forces users into a controversial agreement due to the EU Data Act....
