Access Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

EU Commission reviews Android DMA rules on interoperability

The European Commission is consulting third parties on proposed measures requiring Alphabet to ensure effective interoperability between Google Android and AI services under the Digital Markets Act.

The draft measures focus on AI services’ access to key Android capabilities, including wake-word activation, contextual data, integration with applications, and access to hardware and software resources needed for reliable and responsive services.

The Commission opened proceedings in January 2026 to specify how Alphabet should comply with DMA interoperability obligations for features relevant to AI services. Its proposed measures cover invocation, context, actions on apps and the operating system, access to resources, and general requirements such as free access, documented frameworks and APIs, technical assistance and reporting.

Stakeholders were asked to comment on the effectiveness, completeness, feasibility and implementation timelines of the proposed measures, particularly from the perspective of AI service providers and Android device manufacturers.

Input from Alphabet and interested third parties may lead to adjustments before the Commission adopts a final decision-making the measures legally binding. The Commission is expected to adopt that decision by 27 July 2026.

Why does it matter?

The case shows how the DMA is being applied to the emerging competitive landscape for AI assistants and mobile operating systems. If third-party AI services need access to Android features such as wake words, contextual data, app actions and on-device resources to compete effectively, interoperability rules could shape which AI tools reach users and how much control gatekeepers retain over mobile AI ecosystems.

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Council of the EU pushes for human-centred AI in education systems

The Council of the European Union has approved conclusions calling for an ethical, safe and human-centred approach to AI in education, stressing that teachers should remain at the heart of the learning process as AI tools become more widely used across schools and universities.

The Council said the conclusions focus on strengthening digital skills and AI literacy, guaranteeing inclusion and fairness, empowering teachers, and supporting the well-being of both teachers and learners. It also noted that the relationship between AI and teaching is being addressed for the first time in the EU education policy.

The EU ministers highlighted both the opportunities and risks associated with AI-driven education systems. The Council said AI could improve accessibility, support disadvantaged learners, enable more individualised teaching and assessment methods, and reduce administrative workloads for educators.

At the same time, the conclusions raise concerns about misinformation, algorithmic bias, over-reliance on technology, reduced teacher autonomy, data protection risks and the widening of digital inequalities across Europe. The Council also warned that AI could affect learners’ concentration and skill acquisition, while raising broader societal and environmental concerns.

The conclusions call on national governments to strengthen teachers’ AI and digital skills through training, while encouraging the development and use of education-specific AI tools that provide clear pedagogical value and align with data protection, accountability and risk-awareness requirements.

The Council also said teachers should have opportunities to contribute to the design and evaluation of AI tools used in education, reflecting a digital humanism approach focused on human agency and democratic values.

Member states are urged to ensure AI deployment does not undermine teachers’ autonomy or sustainable working conditions, and that digital tools remain accessible and suitable for all learners. The European Commission was encouraged to support international cooperation, research, ethical guidance, peer-to-peer exchanges and capacity-building as AI adoption accelerates across European education systems.

Why does it matter?

AI is moving into classrooms not only as a learning tool, but as part of how teaching, assessment, administration and student support are organised. The Council’s conclusions underline that education policy will need to address more than technical adoption, including teacher autonomy, digital inequality, learner well-being, data protection and the risk of over-reliance on automated systems.

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UNESCO explores how AI and design can reshape culture and creativity

UNESCO’s Regional Office for East Asia has launched a global call for good practice cases on how AI and design are being used to support culture, creativity, education, sustainability and social inclusion.

The call invites submissions from organisations, institutions, practitioners, educators and innovators using AI together with design approaches to create positive outcomes in cultural and creative sectors. UNESCO says the initiative is looking for practical examples that support culture, creativity, livelihoods, learning, sustainability and social inclusion.

The call focuses on four thematic areas: cultural heritage protection, documentation and interpretation; cultural tourism and visitor experience design; fashion and creative industry innovation; and design education and capacity development.

Selected projects may receive UNESCO recognition, be included in a publication or catalogue, participate in exhibitions or showcases, receive invitations to talks or events, and gain visibility through UNESCO communication channels.

The initiative reflects growing international interest in how AI can support creative and cultural sectors beyond industrial productivity. UNESCO’s framing places design principles such as inclusion, accessibility, cultural relevance and people-centred use at the centre of responsible AI deployment in cultural and educational contexts.

Submissions are open until 15 June 2026, with selected cases scheduled to be announced on 15 July 2026. Applications may be submitted in English or Chinese and are expected to demonstrate practical examples of AI supporting learning, livelihoods, creativity or sustainable development through design-oriented approaches.

Why does it matter?

The call points to a wider effort to shape AI use in culture and creativity around public value rather than solely on automation. By focusing on heritage, tourism, fashion and design education, UNESCO is encouraging examples where AI supports local knowledge, creative livelihoods, cultural access and inclusive innovation.

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European Ombudsman criticises Commission over X risk report access

The European Ombudswoman has criticised the European Commission’s handling of a request for public access to a risk assessment report submitted by social media platform X under the Digital Services Act.

The case concerned a journalist’s request to access X’s 2023 risk assessment report, which large online platforms must provide under the DSA. The Commission refused to assess the report for possible disclosure, arguing that access could undermine X’s commercial interests, an ongoing DSA investigation and an independent audit.

The Ombudswoman found it unreasonable for the Commission to rely on a general presumption of non-disclosure rather than individually assessing the report. She said the circumstances in which the EU courts have allowed such presumptions differ from the rules applying to DSA risk assessment reports.

Although X has since made the report public with redactions, the Ombudswoman recommended that the Commission conduct its own assessment and aim to give the journalist the widest access possible, including potentially to parts redacted by the company. If access is refused for any sections, the Commission must explain why.

The finding of maladministration highlights the importance of transparency in the oversight of very large online platforms under the DSA, particularly where documents are relevant to public scrutiny of platform risk management and regulatory enforcement.

Why does it matter?

The case tests how far transparency obligations around very large online platforms can be limited by broad claims of commercial sensitivity or ongoing investigations. DSA risk assessment reports are central to understanding how platforms identify and manage systemic risks, so access decisions affect public oversight of the EU digital regulation as much as the rights of individual requesters.

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Dutch court backs Solvinity DigiD contract despite US data access fears

The District Court of The Hague has rejected an attempt by three Dutch citizens to block the government from renewing its contract with Solvinity, the company responsible for hosting and technically managing systems linked to DigiD.

The plaintiffs argued that Solvinity’s planned acquisition by US-based IT provider Kyndryl could place sensitive data from more than 16 million DigiD users under US jurisdiction, potentially exposing it to US authorities and creating risks to critical public services such as healthcare, pensions, taxes, and unemployment systems.

Despite these concerns, the court ruled in favour of the Dutch State, allowing the agreement to proceed. Judges did not accept arguments that the deal would immediately threaten data security or justify halting the contract.

The decision leaves further scrutiny to the Investment Assessment Office, which is reviewing national security risks linked to the acquisition. The case highlights ongoing tensions around digital sovereignty and data protection in the Netherlands.

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Ireland and the EU intensify DSA pressure on Meta

Coimisiún na Meán, the media regulator of Ireland, has launched two formal investigations into Meta over the design of recommender systems on Facebook and Instagram under the Digital Services Act. The investigations focus on whether users are prevented from choosing recommendation feeds that are not based on the profiling of their personal data.

Coimisiún na Meán said concerns emerged following platform supervision reviews and complaints linked to potential ‘dark patterns’ and deceptive interface designs. Regulators are examining whether users can easily access and modify non-profiled recommendation feeds as required under Article 27 of the DSA, alongside whether interface designs may improperly influence user choices under Article 25.

John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said recommender systems can repeatedly push harmful material into user feeds, particularly affecting children and younger users. The regulator also warned that Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) must ensure users can exercise their rights under the DSA without manipulation or unnecessary barriers.

EU investigates Meta over under-13 access on Instagram and Facebook

At the same time, the European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in potential breach of the DSA over failures to adequately prevent children under 13 from accessing Instagram and Facebook. Regulators said Meta’s age verification and reporting systems may be ineffective, while the company’s risk assessments allegedly failed to properly address harms faced by underage users.

Why does it matter?

These investigations are critical because they could shape how the DSA is enforced across Europe, particularly in cases involving children and algorithmic recommendation systems. If regulators conclude that Meta failed to properly protect minors or used manipulative interface designs that discouraged users from choosing non-profiled feeds, the case may set a wider precedent for how large online platforms handle age assurance, user consent, privacy protections, and recommender system transparency under EU law.

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EU partnership with global telecom coalition targets 6G and next-generation networks

The European Commission has joined the Global Coalition on Telecommunications as its first strategic partner, marking a further step in international cooperation on next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.

GCOT operates as an informal multilateral group focused on promoting telecommunications systems built around security, resilience, and international cooperation. With participation from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia, Finland, and Sweden, the coalition aims to strengthen global dialogue and align technological development across borders.

In its new role, the EU is expected to contribute expertise, participate in policy discussions, and support joint initiatives across key telecom workstreams. Strategic partnership status is designed to allow more flexible cooperation, while governance remains with the coalition’s core members.

Telecommunications remain central to European competitiveness, particularly as AI, cloud systems, sensing capabilities, and satellite networks begin to reshape the sector. The partnership is therefore likely to support the EU priorities such as supply chain diversification, infrastructure resilience, and the development of future technologies, including 6G.

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UK AI sector survey to map growth trends and policy direction

The UK government is stepping up efforts to better understand the structure and growth of its AI sector through an updated national survey led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The research, conducted by Ipsos and supported by Perspective Economics, aims to gather direct insights from businesses operating in the UK AI ecosystem. The findings are expected to inform future government policy on AI and sector development.

Participation is voluntary and confidential. Respondents are drawn from senior leadership roles, including chief executives, chief technology officers, company directors, and senior members of AI or data science teams. The survey focuses on business activity, products and services, and longer-term growth plans across the sector.

Fieldwork is taking place between late April and the end of May 2026 using online questionnaires and telephone interviews. Each session is expected to last around 15 to 20 minutes, allowing businesses to contribute structured input without significant disruption to normal operations.

The initiative reflects a wider UK policy priority: ensuring that government strategy keeps pace with developments in AI innovation and commercial growth. By drawing on direct industry evidence rather than relying only on secondary analysis, policymakers are trying to build a more accurate picture of the country’s evolving AI landscape. This last sentence is an inference based on the survey’s stated purpose of informing government AI policy.

Why does it matter?

AI policy is much easier to design in theory than in a market that is changing quickly and unevenly. If the government lacks current information on how AI firms are growing, what products they are developing, and where the main constraints lie, it risks shaping policy based on outdated assumptions. Direct input from businesses gives policymakers a stronger basis for decisions on support, regulation, skills, and investment, especially at a time when the UK is trying to turn AI ambition into measurable economic capacity.

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Latvia shows average AI tool adoption levels

Recent data from Eurostat and the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia highlights that around one-third of people in Latvia use AI tools. Latvian Public Media reports that usage broadly matches the EU average.

In Latvia, 35.1 percent of internet users reported using AI in 2025, slightly above the EU figure of 33 percent. Adoption is highest among younger people, with nearly three-quarters of those aged 16 to 24 using such tools.

Usage varies across demographics, with higher rates among educated users and employed individuals. Men use AI slightly more than women, while regional differences show stronger uptake in the Riga area.

Many non-users say they see no need for AI, while others cite a lack of skills or awareness. The findings were reported based on official data in Latvia.

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Greece accelerates digital governance with AI enforcement and social media age restrictions

Greece is moving to tighten online child protection and expand AI-based public enforcement as part of a broader digital governance agenda, Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou has said.

Under the plan, social media platforms would, from 2027, be required to block access for users under 15 using age verification systems rather than self-declared age data. However, AI is already being used in road safety enforcement, with smart cameras issuing digital fines through government platforms.

The policy includes tools such as Kids Wallet, built on privacy-preserving verification methods that share only age eligibility. Authorities say the aim is to address risks linked to digital addiction while strengthening protections for minors across online environments.

Alongside these measures, AI is already being deployed in road safety enforcement. Smart cameras are being used to issue digital fines through government platforms, with a nationwide rollout planned to expand monitoring and improve compliance.

These measures form part of a wider effort to digitise public administration, reduce inefficiencies, and strengthen accountability. By embedding technology more deeply into everyday governance, Greece is trying to reshape how citizens interact with the state while also addressing long-standing systemic problems.

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