Digital Single Market
Silicon Valley giants hit with first complaints on day one of GDPR
Big American technology companies were the first to be hit with complaints for how they handle users’ personal information under the new EU data protection regulation known as GDPR.
Seize the challenge of Big Data and AI, says Tata boss
Europe is ahead in the digital game, says Tata's Consultancy Services COO. But businesses and governments will need to utilise Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to improve services and the quality of life of customers.
GDPR: EU’s new data protection rules come into effect
The European Union's new data protection laws came into effect on Friday (25 May), with Brussels saying the changes will protect consumers from being like "people naked in an aquarium".
Zuckerberg’s Parliament meeting ‘the right thing’, says EU justice chief
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s meeting on Tuesday afternoon (22 May) with European Parliament leaders is “the right thing for himself” after the company’s recent data collection scandal, EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said in an interview.
Commission demands EU leaders approve deadlocked ePrivacy bill
The European Commission is amping up pressure on EU leaders to approve a controversial privacy bill, deadlocked in legal talks for more than a year, after the data breach scandal involving Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.
First EU cybersecurity law takes effect—with new fines for misbehaving companies
The first EU cybersecurity law went into effect on Wednesday (9 March), as negotiators continue to hammer out details of a second bill that will create even more rules in the area.
Commission expects EU countries to set ‘high fines’ under new cybersecurity law
European Commission officials who pushed through new cybersecurity legislation set to take effect next week are expecting EU countries to introduce high fines against companies that disobey the rules.
A European vision for human-centred digital platform ecosystems
Europe must continue to establish itself as the global regulator of digital technology serving Europeans and respond to growing pressure from online platforms, write Mariya Gabriel and Mounir Mahjoubi.
Broadcasters face new levies to fund European films and TV
Broadcasters could be forced to pay into national funds to support European film and TV productions in any EU country, even if they’re based in a different member state, negotiators on an audiovisual media bill have agreed.
Commission threatens to legislate on ‘fake news’ ahead of 2019 EU election
The European Commission has threatened to introduce legislation on so-called fake news by the end of the year as part of its strategy to clamp down on online disinformation before the 2019 EU elections.
Online platforms under fire as EU pushes for transparency on search results
Online platforms ranging from ecommerce retailers like Amazon to search engines including Google will be forced to reveal the criteria they use to display search results, under a new European Commission proposal.
Commission vows to spend €1.5 billion on artificial intelligence by 2020
The European Commission announced on Wednesday (25 April) that it will invest €1.5 billion into artificial intelligence research over the next three years, and was promptly hit with criticism for drafting its strategy years after the United States and China started their own massive funding plans.
French cybersecurity chief warns against ‘step back into the past’
Draft EU legislation poses a threat to member states that already have sophisticated cybersecurity tests, like France and Germany, the director of France’s cybersecurity agency warned in an interview.
MEPs and Commission headed for showdown over international phone call rates in the EU
The European Parliament is holding its ground on its controversial proposal to lower the costs of international phone calls within the EU, one week before a make-or-break round of negotiations on a sweeping telecoms bill.
After Facebook scandal, MEPs argue the GDPR isn’t enough
The EU needs more legal safeguards to prevent massive privacy breaches like the current scandal over Facebook and British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, MEPs from different political parties argued on Wednesday (18 April).
Twenty-four EU countries sign artificial intelligence pact in bid to compete with US and China
Twenty-four EU countries pledged to band together to form a “European approach” to artificial intelligence in a bid to compete with American and Asian tech giants.
Commission should ‘walk the walk’ on cybersecurity, German chief says
The European Commission should “walk the walk” and use strong encryption to protect its computer networks against hackers---instead of pushing member states to adopt controversial new legislation, the head of Germany’s cybersecurity agency has said.
RSF tackles fake news with media certification
The NGO Reporters Without Borders wants to create a reliable media certification to limit the spread of fake news. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Cybersecurity agency warns of ‘extremely dangerous’ risks of 5G technology
Superfast 5G mobile networks come with “extremely dangerous” cybersecurity risks, the EU cybersecurity agency ENISA has warned. 5G is expected to become available to European consumers by 2025.
Gabriel: Facebook users ‘need to know what happened with their data’
Facebook users “need to know what happened with their data” following reports over a week ago that millions of profiles on the social media platform were secretly used to help political campaigns, EU Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said.
The misguided logic of digital taxation
The European Commission’s proposal on digital taxation demonstrates a completely new logic of taxation. It contains all the wrongs you can achieve in one proposal, writes Gunnar Hökmark.
EU heads of state issue warning over Facebook data case
The 28 EU heads of state issued a warning shot on Thursday (22 March) over allegations that 50 million Facebook users’ data was harvested without their consent to influence political campaigns.
EU leaders back UK on Russia, hold off on trade
Leaders of the 28 EU member states meet in Brussels on 22-23 March for high-level talks on issues ranging from the Salisbury poisoning attack to visions for a reform of the eurozone.