About: EU
French and Dutch call for ‘regulating access to users’ for Big Tech giants
Forthcoming EU rules to rein in the dominance of the Big Tech giants should include measures to regulate Big Tech from accumulating too many users at the disadvantage of smaller competitors, a position paper from France and the Netherlands says.
UK government under pressure to prove data adequacy to EU
The UK government is coming under increasing pressure to convince Brussels regulators that the country's data protection landscape is fit for EU personal data, amid wider concerns that UK surveillance practices compromise the security of EU standards.
EU slammed for funding ‘discriminatory’ Myanmar voting application
An EU-funded voting application in Myanmar has come under heavy criticism for inciting "racial and religious vilification" in the country by profiling candidates' ethnicity and beliefs, using derogatory terminology to designate those of Rohingya descent.
Committee of the Regions warns against centralising cohesion policy
This week, European regional policy leaders met to formulate their demands of the EU. They warned against a reduction of cohesion funds and requested a say in their distribution. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Concerns emerge over Italy’s ‘monopolistic’ Single Broadband Network plans
Concerns have emerged among EU consumer groups that plans in Italy to establish a single firm overseeing the rollout of the country's future broadband infrastructure could lead to a 'quasi-monopolistic' market structure.
Commission must refuse UK data adequacy, rights group says
The European Commission should not grant the UK a data adequacy agreement as part of its ongoing assessment of the country's data protection landscape, an Irish civil rights group has said.
Digital Services Act should avoid rules on ‘harmful’ content, Big Tech tells EU
New EU measures regulating the web should avoid, in the first instance, rules on the hosting of online content deemed "harmful" but not "illegal", a Brussels trade association representing the world's largest online platforms has said.
EU nations call for ‘soft law solutions’ in future Artificial Intelligence regulation
Fourteen EU countries have set out their position on the future regulation of Artificial Intelligence, urging the European Commission to adopt a "soft law approach".
After Google copyright win, French publishers set sights on Apple
After having successfully struck a deal with Google, French publishing groups have now set their sights on fighting for better terms with another one of the Big Tech giants: Apple.
Commission presses Zoom for security assurances but continues to use platform
The European Commission is looking for further assurances from US video conferencing platform Zoom regarding the security of its technology, after concerns emerged earlier this year over the company's privacy protocols.
Europol charts ‘value of accessing data’ in encrypted cybercrime
The EU agency for law enforcement has recognized the increasing difficulty of police authorities in Europe to access data stored on encrypted networks, as the EU itself attempts to find legal solutions that will facilitate police access to protected communications.
Europe’s unemployment rate rises for fifth straight month in August
While the unemployment rate in the eurozone reached 8.1% in August, it rose to 7.4% for the bloc as a whole, according to Eurostat. EURACTIV's partner EUROEFE reports.
Member states risk ‘breaching EU law’ in 5G delays
EU countries which have not assigned 5G spectrum frequencies by the end of 2020 will be in breach of EU law and could face legal action from the Commission, the EU executive has warned.
Health crisis pushes EU into era of digital education
The European Commission has laid out plans to boost the education of citizens in digital skills across the bloc, as part of a drive that it hopes will aid Europe's long-term economic stability while the continent rebounds from the after-effects of the coronavirus crisis.
US praises German moves to sideline Huawei from 5G networks
The US administration has welcomed reports that Germany is set to take a tougher stance against the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, also noting that they would welcome the country into the US's so-called 5G 'clean network' program.
Ex-Cambridge Analytica boss admits to ‘unethical services’, accepts seven-year ban
The European Commission is not able to say when a COVID-19 vaccine will be available, EU health chief Stella Kyriakides admitted on Thursday (24 September), even though a senior EU official voiced hope earlier this month that the first vaccine could have market authorisation as early as November.
Chinese business wants less EU red tape
The Chinese business community in Europe would like to see less 'red tape' and regulatory barriers for its firms on the bloc, but is also open to the idea of offering further opportunities for EU business in China, says Zhou Lihong.
TikTok unclear on how old EU data will be transferred to new Irish data centre
TikTok has admitted that it will not retroactively transfer all EU personal data to its new data site in Ireland when the facility is completed next year, in a decision that could provoke concern among data protection activists in Europe.
Commission fears UK data protection regime ‘may change in the future’
The European Commission has concerns that certain aspects of the UK's data protection regime may change in the future and negatively impact the safety of EU personal data when transferred to the country, Commission sources have informed EURACTIV.
‘Content removal’ unlikely to be part of EU regulation on digital services, Jourova says
The European Commission has given its clearest indication yet that obligations on digital platforms to remove content are unlikely to feature in far-reaching EU efforts to regulate the web, due to be presented before the end of the year.
EU must openly discuss Turkey sanctions, says Austria’s EU minister
At the next European summit, Austria wants to speak openly about sanctions against Ankara, including the possibility to break off accession talks with Turkey, the country's EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler told EURACTIV Germany.
EU nears conclusion on cyber surveillance export controls
EU negotiators are closing in a deal on new rules that would end the sale of cyber-surveillance technologies to autocratic regimes worldwide.
Commission concedes delay in 5G deployment across EU
The European Commission has admitted that there will be a delay on targets to launch 5G telecommunications networks across all EU member states by the end of 2020, owing to postponements in spectrum frequency auctions that have occurred as a result of the coronavirus crisis.