eu commission

The EU has warned Meta that its safeguards are insufficient to prevent children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram. Regulators found that Meta's efforts to identify and remove underage users are inadequate, potentially leading to fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover if violations are confirmed.

Major European media companies are urging EU officials to reconsider a new law. They fear the Digital Fairness Act, aimed at online consumer protection, could unintentionally damage their businesses. The companies argue that existing regulations already cover their operations. They want the focus to be on large tech firms where responsibility gaps exist, not on established media sectors.

In a landmark decision, the European Union has greenlit an impressive €90 billion loan to Ukraine alongside a new wave of sanctions targeting Russia, effectively breaking a prolonged deadlock. This vital financial support, designated for military and fiscal stability, follows Hungary and Slovakia's recent agreement to resume oil flows through a major pipeline.

Salesforce and Slack have filed a lawsuit against Microsoft in London, accusing the tech giant of anti-competitive behavior by bundling its Teams app with Office. This follows similar complaints in Europe and an ongoing FTC probe in the US into Microsoft's alleged market dominance. Rivals like Google also criticize Microsoft's practices, though Microsoft defends its business model.

Siemens, Europe's largest engineering firm, is threatening to shift AI investments to the US and China, citing restrictive EU regulations. CEO Roland Busch argues that the EU's AI and Data Acts unfairly burden industrial AI with consumer-level oversight. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also supports revising the framework, calling current rules overly restrictive.

For a while now, the European Commission has been keeping a close eye on how big tech companies manage their platforms. But it seems the tension has reached a breaking point: the EU has officially "warned" Meta and is moving to order a rollback of recent changes it made to WhatsApp.

Europe's new Age Verification app faces serious security concerns. A researcher claims to have easily hacked the system, highlighting flaws in how it stores data and bypasses security. The app, designed to protect children online, reportedly allows users to prove someone else's age, not their own. This raises questions about its effectiveness and the safety of user data.

Europe has launched a free, open-source app for precise age verification, aiming to shield children from harmful online content. This initiative challenges social media platforms to enhance their child protection measures, with potential fines for non-compliance. Several EU nations are also exploring national social media bans for younger teens due to mental health concerns.

The European Union’s (EU) newly appointed competition chief has sent a clear message to the Trump administration: political pressure will not derail investigations into American technology giants like Google, Meta, Apple and X, among other major US companies. Anthony Whelan, who is a former close aide to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has been appointed to lead the EU’s competition directorate.

European leaders may be uncomfortable with Trump’s Iran war, but won’t dare criticise him. For, US remains the guarantor of Western security. But European publics are increasingly losing patience with this hypocrisy, punishing those seen as close to Trump

France is ditching Microsoft Windows for Linux, a significant step in Europe's push for digital sovereignty and reduced reliance on American tech giants. This move, aimed at regaining control over data and digital infrastructure, aligns with broader EU efforts to lessen dependence on foreign technology. The initiative begins with government digital agencies, signaling a strategic shift in national digital policy.

European Union energy chief Dan Jorgensen stated that energy prices will remain high for the foreseeable future. He noted that even if peace is achieved tomorrow, a return to normal levels is not expected soon. The EU is preparing measures to assist families and businesses. Efforts are underway to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on Russian gas.

The European Commission's Europa.eu website suffered a cyberattack. Data was stolen from its cloud systems. The group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility. This is the second breach in recent months. The Commission is investigating to improve its cybersecurity. The incident raises questions about the EU's cloud security.

US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder warned Brussels to ease regulations and fines on American tech companies. He stated that excessive regulation risks sidelining Europe from the crucial AI economy, as these companies provide essential data, data centers, and hardware. Puzder suggested US firms may reassess their EU business due to these risks.

Europe's top broadcasters are urging the EU to classify smart TV operating systems and virtual assistants from tech giants like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Samsung as 'gatekeepers' under new digital rules. They argue these platforms wield significant market power, controlling content access and potentially stifling competition.

Hungary's prime minister said Wednesday that Budapest would phase out gas deliveries to Ukraine, the latest salvo in the feud between the two countries over a damaged pipeline transporting Russian oil. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country is a major gas supplier to Ukraine, has accused Kyiv of delaying repairs on the pipeline, effectively stopping the flow of Russian oil to Hungary and its neighbour Slovakia.

A Dutch court has ordered Elon Musk's xAI to immediately halt its chatbot Grok from creating non-consensual sexualised images in the Netherlands, imposing hefty daily fines for non-compliance. This landmark ruling, brought by a nonprofit fighting online abuse, holds the AI company directly responsible for its tool's output, setting a significant European precedent.