Digital
LEAK: EU charts 6G future in ambitious industrial plan
The European Commission has set out a series of comprehensive plans to revolutionise the bloc's industrial sector, with a heavy interest in developing key technologies with 'strategic importance', including measures to go 'beyond 5G' and 'towards 6G.'
Soros accuses Facebook of conspiring to re-elect Trump
Speaking in Davos, billionaire and philanthropist George Soros accused Facebook of working for the re-election of US President Donald Trump, in a speech where he also targeted “would-be dictator” Matteo Salvini as one of the biggest threats to European democracies.
Germany’s CSU wants to increase monitoring of digital space
At a party retreat on 8 January, Germany's conservative Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) passed a resolution highlighting its ideas on digital policy. Although digital activists criticised the party's demands for increased monitoring of the digital space, they agreed with its approach to 5G expansion. EURACTIV Germany reports.
UN experts demand probe into alleged Saudi hack of Amazon boss Bezos
U.N. experts have demanded an immediate investigation by U.S. and other authorities into allegations that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince was involved in a plot to hack the phone of Amazon boss and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos.
Europeans to pass national digital tax by end 2020 if no OECD deal
Despite of the US threats to impose new tariffs, France, Italy, Spain and the UK said on Wednesday (22 July) that they would move ahead with their national digital tax if there is no agreement at the OECD level by the end of this year
MEP Axel Voss publishes EU digital manifesto, warns of EU’s ‘digital dependency’
Conservative German MEP Axel Voss, also known as the father of the controversial copyright reform, has published a manifesto on European digital policy in which he warns that Europe should not become a "digital colony" of other powers. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU fuels rocket programme with €100m
The European Commission announced a €100 million investment in a prototype rocket programme on Tuesday (21 January), as Europe aims to keep a firm hold in a space industry predicted to be worth €1 trillion in the coming years.
Talks on digital tax with US remain difficult – France’s Le Maire
France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday (21 January) talks with the United States on the taxation of digital companies “remained difficult” despite a pledge from the two countries to avoid a trade war until at least the end of this year.
Hundreds of US police departments using ‘dystopian’ face recognition app — report
An explosive new US media report published on Saturday revealed that a secretive company has been selling the world's most advanced known facial recognition software to local law enforcement agencies for at least 2 years.
‘International alignment’ required on future AI rules, Google chief says
Google chief Sundar Pichai has called for 'international alignment' and 'an agreement on core values' in the future regulation of Artificial Intelligence. But positions of the EU and the US on the issue diverge, following the recent leak of European Commission papers detailing a crackdown on facial recognition technologies.
LEAK: Commission considers facial recognition ban in AI ‘white paper’
The European Commission is considering measures to impose a temporary ban on facial recognition technologies used by both public and private actors, according to a draft white paper on Artificial Intelligence obtained by EURACTIV. If implemented, the plans could throw...
Digital Brief: Wiretapping in the age of 5G
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Storytelling and Multilingualism at Netflix
Netflix's Diego Avalos discusses the importance of original storytelling as part of Netflix's creative output, how the company identifies the stories at the heart of its production, and multilingualism in the age of mass online media
Indiscriminate data retention ‘incompatible’ with EU charter, ECJ says
Cases of 'general and indiscriminate' data retention by EU national security authorities seriously interfere with the privacy protections enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, according to a non-binding opinion from the European Court of Justice delivered on Wednesday.
Europeans seek ‘lawful’ ways of intercepting 5G communications
The European Commission is working alongside Europol and EU member states to "identify appropriate ways of preserving lawful interception capabilities in 5G networks," said Ylva Johansson, the EU's Home Affairs Commissioner.
US officials to visit Britain, pushing for Huawei 5G ban
A delegation of US officials will arrive in Britain on Monday (13 January) to try to persuade Britain not to use Huawei equipment in the upgrade of its telecoms network, two people with knowledge of the matter said on Sunday.
Germany’s plans for automatic facial recognition meet fierce criticism
Germany's Interior Minister Horst Seehofer plans to use automatic facial recognition at 134 railway stations and 14 airports, according to a news report published on 3 January. Although official confirmation of the plan is still missing, an alliance between civil society and politicians has called for the banning of this surveillance technology. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Digital Brief: von der Leyen has Chinese cyber ‘worries’
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. “China is very far-reaching by now…We have to be clear in the cyber domain, where we have a lot...
‘Shot across the bow’: US steps up pressure on UK ahead of Huawei decision
The United States is making a final pitch to Britain ahead of a UK decision on whether to upgrade its telecoms network with Huawei equipment, amid threats to cut intelligence-sharing ties, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Britain...
Europeans should control their B-to-B data, says EU commissioner
The United States and China are the world's leaders in harvesting and exploiting personal data and the European Union must make sure the same thing does not happen when it comes to business-to-business data, the new EU commissioner for the internal market said.
Poland’s Play plans 5G roll-out in Gdynia in race to offer first services
Polish mobile operator Play Communications is planning to roll out a 5G network in the northern city of Gdynia, its chief executive said, as the country’s telcoms providers rush to be the first to offer commercial next generation services.
France and US seek compromise on digital tax in 15 days
France and the US will try to settle their dispute over the French digital tax in 15 days to avoid further tariffs, French Finance minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday (7 January).
Avoid heavy AI regulation, White House tells EU
The US administration has urged European lawmakers to avoid heavy regulation frameworks in the future rollout of Artificial Intelligence technologies on the continent. The call comes ahead of the European Commission's planned presentation of its AI strategy, set to be announced early this year.