Digital
Negotiators reach quick agreement on law banning data localisation
EU negotiators sealed an agreement that will allow non-personal data to move freely across the bloc and ban national laws that require companies to store data within a country’s borders.
Controversial copyright overhaul passes Parliament committee, still faces political fight
A sweeping, controversial copyright reform bill passed through the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) on Wednesday (20 June), but the legislation could still be toppled during a make-or-break vote in the full chamber’s plenary session next month.
Commission urges EU countries to publicly blame states behind cyber attacks
EU countries have been encouraged to name and shame foreign states that sponsor cybersecurity attacks, in an unusually outspoken announcement from the European Commission.
Parliament demands EU institutions ban Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity products
MEPs have called for the EU institutions to put more money into their in-house cybersecurity units and, in a contentious move, also demanded they stop using products from “malicious” Russian firm Kaspersky Lab.
Civil Liberties MEPs want EU-US Privacy Shield suspended by September
MEPs in the European Parliament’s powerful Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) want the European Commission to suspend its Privacy Shield agreement with the United States unless the Trump administration introduces data protection safeguards by 1 September, in a move that comes amid mounting transatlantic political tensions.
Nine countries unite against EU export controls on surveillance software
EXCLUSIVE / An EU proposal to impose export controls on technology products that can be used as spyware is at risk of being delayed as a group of nine countries have pushed back against the overhaul.
Cybersecurity agency hopes for 24/7 crisis response centre in Brussels
The EU cybersecurity agency ENISA wants to open its first Brussels office by mid-2019 to manage major crises around the clock.
EU caps price of international phone calls in landmark telecoms overhaul
Lawmakers agreed to cap the price of phone calls and SMS messages between EU countries and sealed a deal to encourage investment in fast internet networks during a late-night meeting on Wednesday (6 June).
Justice ministers divided over proposal for police access to real-time data
National justice ministers are pushing to create new powers for law enforcement authorities to intercept communication data in real time as part of their criminal investigations.
Germany only in the mid-range of digitalisation, EU index shows
As the European Commission pushes forward with digitalisation policies, its DESI-index is meant to measure how digital individual member states already are. Germany, however, is only in the midfield. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Industry groups amp up lobby campaign to topple ePrivacy bill
Dozens of industry associations have made a last-ditch effort to water down the draft ePrivacy legislation before national telecoms ministers gather to discuss the file next week in Luxembourg.
National governments reach breakthrough deal on voluntary cybersecurity certification
Diplomats reached a compromise on new cybersecurity rules more quickly and with less controversy than many observers close to the file had expected.
France, Germany push EU funding for tech start-ups
France and Germany are pushing for an EU-wide initiative to fund innovation and research in tech start-up projects across the bloc so that Europe can compete more effectively against the likes of China and the United States.
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.
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".
Commission’s bond-backed product gets lukewarm reception
Financial representatives poured cold water on Thursday (24 May) on the European Commission’s proposal to create sovereign bond-backed securities (SBBS), insisting that not all the elements exist yet for a successful market for the product.
MEPs outraged over Zuckerberg’s EU Parliament show
Tensions soared between a handful of leading MEPs and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as the 34-year-old billionaire avoided answering detailed questions on the company’s data policies during a meeting in the European Parliament on Tuesday evening (22 May).
Activist groups launch campaign to break up Facebook
A coalition of activist groups on Monday announced a campaign to break up Facebook, arguing that the huge social network "has too much power over our lives and democracy."
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.
Jourova to press for EU-US data sharing deal next week
EU justice chief Vera Jourova will push for a new data access agreement with the United States when she meets with her American counterpart next week, amid growing transatlantic tensions over issues including the Iran nuclear agreement and trade.
EU pledges funds to Western Balkans, but no firm promises in Sofia
The European Union pledged fresh funds for the Western Balkans on Thursday (17 May) to help its transport and digital infrastructure, renewable energy and education efforts. It also agreed to work closely on "security challenges". But talk of further EU enlargement remained elusive.
The Brief – MEPs save Zuckerberg’s face
The European Parliament has a great talent for snatching defeat from the jaws of a PR victory.
Whistleblower: Cambridge Analytica shared data with Russia
Political consulting group Cambridge Analytica used Russian researchers and shared data with companies linked to Russian intelligence, a whistleblower told a congressional hearing on interference in the 2016 US election Wednesday (16 May).