Digital

5G and IoT licensing: Are we better connected?

A vital first step to making a European success story of 5G and the ‘Internet of Things’ is to help businesses manufacturing connected products understand the wireless technology licensing environment. That is why a group of innovative European companies have published a detailed draft guidance to help inform them.

Europe needs urgent cybersecurity action

Election interference. Fake news. Hyper-partisanship. Ransomware. Denial of service attacks. Cyber-terrorism. Welcome to Europe’s new normal, writes Philippe Cotelle.

The EU can win the war on technology

There is a war on technology going on: China, the US and Russia are competing to be the leader in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, machine learning, digital platforms, 5G, new materials, photonics, and quantum computing. But Europe is waking up, writes Fred Bakker.

How building renovation and electrification of transport can help us reach the Paris goals

At first glance, buildings and transport may look like two unrelated subjects. But with the mass deployment of electric vehicles, managing the electricity consumption of cars when they recharge becomes critical to ensure grid stability, writes Harry Verhaar.

Electronic evidence: Cloud customers should remain in control of their digital assets

European businesses are rightfully concerned about keeping control of their data in the cloud. The proposed European regulation on access to electronic evidence by law enforcement (e-Evidence regulation) is an important step in the right direction, writes Kim Gagné.  

Royalty stacking builds a big wall for small business IoT innovators

Last week it was Apple, next month it’s Google and last month it was Samsung. Each unveiling their latest smartphones to an expectant public. The latest features will be scrutinised. And, naturally, the prices to the consumer will be debated, writes Brian Scarpelli.

After the copyright win, what strategy for Europe’s media sector?

The European Parliament has just voted to back the copyright directive, as part of the ‘Digital Single Market’ priorities. Now, fighting fake news before the EU elections is not enough: we should prepare a vertical strategy for the media sector 2019-2024, writes Christophe Leclercq.

Europe should lead in greening digitalisation and AI

Greenhouse gas emissions linked to digitalisation are rapidly increasing, despite efforts by tech groups to get more of their energy from renewables. The negative environmental effects need to be addressed more clearly than today, argues Mats Engström.

From transport to street lighting: The emergence of smart city platforms

Uber and Airbnb have shown how city services can be transformed by platform offerings. Developing the right platforms will be key for cities to ensure that their economies, environment, and services are fit for the future, writes Eric Woods.

EC should not rush connected car proposals

DG MOVE has a very important decision to make this autumn. Under its own timetable, it is due to release fast-track proposals to define the technical solutions connected cars will be bound by for years to come.

Legislating with blinkers: the EU’s copyright reform is up for the vote

Europe’s creative sector is without doubt very important to our economy. Over the past decades, it has grown, mainly due to what is arguably Europe’s (and the world’s) most valuable shared economic asset: the internet. Ursula Pachl explains.

Europe’s tech industries are booming, but can it last?

The latest figures show that European technology industries are growing fast: turnover is up an impressive 5.0% in 2017, and 2018 is set to mark the fifth consecutive year of growth. Malte Lohan looks at the challenges ahead.

Blood and soil: How hate speech is destroying political discourse

Anybody with an internet connection and a social media profile will have seen examples of hate speech against migrants and refugees in recent years. And we’re not talking about legitimate criticism of globalisation or Europe’s current migration policy – rather, dehumanising and violent language, calling for the sinking of refugee boats or the gassing of migrants.

ePrivacy: Over-regulation or opportunity?

As debate over the draft ePrivacy Regulation resumes, it transpires that economic research from the ad tech lobby has grossly misled the European Parliament and the Council, writes Dr Johnny Ryan.

How to lower electricity prices in Europe

One important key to lowering electricity prices in the short-term are the grid utility fees. And digital solutions offer the most significant leverage to bring them down, writes Christian Chuboda.

Europe needs to wake up to China’s influencing strategies

As Europe is waking up to the Chinese party-state’s growing influence inside its territory, China experts in Europe need to make themselves heard, write Tabitha Speelman and  Matej Šimalčík.

A holistic approach to smart building systems

While a coordinated operation of all building systems can achieve significant energy savings, those systems are too often installed in siloes hindering to unlock the full potential, writes Tom Machinchick.

Energy and cyber security: The other capacity gap

Europe’s energy companies have made real progress on cyber security in many ways. But actions speak louder than words, and cyber security needs to be a core component of any utility’s strategy, argues Michael John.

Commission vs. Android: Killing the cow for a steak

Competition is what makes the world a better place, not intelligent design by God or by bureaucrats. Therefore, protecting competition is one of the key responsibilities of the European Commission. But in the case of Android, it is about to make a huge mistake, writes Žiga Turk.

Tackling hybrid threats, in Europe and the UK

The June European Council is an opportunity to make sure we have the right measures in place to tackle hostile state threats to security such as cyber attacks, disinformation and meddling in elections, writes Mark Sedwill.

Commission’s approach to tackling online disinformation is an empty box

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and EU Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel are keeping their eyes wide shut to the Russian disinformation threat, writes Jakub Janda.