Digital standards Archives | Page 3 of 386

EDPS frames safe AI as Europe’s next big idea

The European Data Protection Supervisor has framed safe and ethical AI as a defining European idea, linking AI governance to Europe’s history of collective initiatives rooted in shared values and fundamental rights.

In a Europe Day blog post, EDPS official Leonardo Cervera Navas argues that Europe’s approach to AI builds on earlier initiatives such as data protection, the creation of the EDPS and the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation. He presents the AI Act as a continuation of that tradition, aimed at ensuring that AI systems operate safely, ethically and in line with fundamental rights.

The post highlights the AI Act’s risk-based model, which prohibits AI systems posing unacceptable risks to health, safety and fundamental rights, while setting binding requirements for high-risk systems in areas such as safety, transparency, human oversight and rights protection. It also notes that most AI systems are considered minimal risk and fall outside the regulation’s scope.

Cervera Navas also points to the EDPS’s practical role under the AI Act as the AI supervisor for the EU institutions, agencies and bodies. The post refers to the EDPS network of AI Act correspondents, the mapping of AI systems used in the EU public administration, and a regulatory sandbox pilot for testing AI systems in compliance with the AI Act.

The post also emphasises international cooperation, including EDPS engagement through the AI Board, cooperation with market surveillance authorities, UNESCO’s Global Network of AI Supervising Authorities, Council of Europe work on AI risk and impact assessment, and AI discussions within the OECD.

Why does it matter?

As it seems, EDPS wants Europe’s AI governance model to be understood not only as regulation, but as part of a broader rights-based digital policy tradition. Its significance lies in linking the AI Act with practical supervision, institutional coordination and international cooperation, suggesting that the next test for Europe’s AI approach will be implementation rather than rule-making alone.

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Europe pushes for unified capital markets and stronger banking union

European Central Bank Vice-President Luis de Guindos has called for deeper financial integration in Europe, arguing that more unified capital markets and a stronger banking union are needed to support growth, resilience and competitiveness.

Speaking at a joint European Commission and ECB conference on financial integration, de Guindos said Europe has made progress in integrating financial markets, including through stronger cross-border capital flows and reduced differences in some asset prices across member states. However, he warned that fragmentation persists in areas such as corporate lending, equity markets and foreign direct investment.

Cross-border corporate lending within the euro area accounts for only 14% of total corporate lending, while equity market integration has shown signs of decline since 2022, and foreign direct investment within the euro area has fallen to a historical low, according to the speech.

De Guindos said policy priorities should include a genuine single rulebook for capital markets, a more European supervisory framework and support for a tokenised financial ecosystem through the distributed ledger technology pilot regime. He argued that these measures would reduce legal uncertainty, support digital financial innovation and help remove barriers to cross-border capital market integration.

He also called for further banking union reforms, including treating the banking union as a single European jurisdiction, finalising a European deposit insurance scheme and allowing capital and liquidity to move more freely within cross-border banking groups. Such steps, he said, would help reduce fragmentation and strengthen the euro area’s financial system.

The speech also pointed to the need for a more coherent regulatory framework, including simpler and more harmonised rules for banks, closer attention to regulatory gaps between banks and non-bank financial institutions, and the removal of legal and tax barriers that still limit cross-border activity.

Why does it matter?

Financial fragmentation affects how efficiently Europe can channel savings into investment, support innovation and absorb economic shocks. Deeper capital markets make it easier for businesses to access funding across borders, while a stronger banking union could reduce national barriers and improve resilience during periods of stress.

The speech also connects financial integration with digital finance and strategic autonomy. By linking capital market reform with tokenisation, EU-level supervision and banking union, the ECB is framing financial integration as part of Europe’s broader effort to remain competitive in a more fragmented global economy.

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Canada issues age assurance guidance

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has issued guidance on how organisations should assess and implement age assurance tools for websites and online services.

The OPC states that age assurance should only be used where there is a clear legal requirement or a demonstrable risk of harm to children. It emphasises that organisations must evaluate whether alternative, less intrusive measures could address these risks before adopting such systems.

The guidance highlights that any age assurance approach, including those that use AI, must be proportionate, limit personal data collection, and operate in a privacy-protective manner. It also warns against using collected data for other purposes or linking user activity across sessions.

The OPC adds that organisations must provide user choice with respect to the type of personal information they would prefer to use in an age-assurance process, provide appeal mechanisms, and minimise repeated verification. The framework aims to balance child protection with privacy rights, with the guidance applying to online services in Canada.

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California expands digital democracy platform for AI policy debate

California’s Governor is expanding Engaged California, a digital democracy initiative designed to give residents a direct voice in shaping AI policy across the state. The programme invites Californians to share how AI is affecting their jobs, industries, and communities, with the findings expected to help guide future state policy decisions.

The initiative will begin with a public participation phase, during which residents can submit experiences and recommendations through the state’s online platform. A second phase, later in 2026, will bring together a smaller representative group of residents for live deliberative forums focused on AI’s economic and social impact. The process aims to identify areas of public consensus on how government should respond to rapidly evolving AI technologies.

State officials described ‘Engaged California’ as a first-in-the-nation deliberative democracy programme inspired partly by Taiwan’s digital governance model. Instead of functioning like a social media platform or public poll, the initiative is designed to encourage structured discussion and collaborative policymaking around emerging technologies.

California also used the announcement to highlight broader AI initiatives already underway, including AI procurement reforms, workforce training partnerships with major technology companies, AI-powered wildfire detection systems, cybersecurity assessments, and responsible governance frameworks.

Officials said the state aims to balance innovation with safeguards related to child safety, deepfakes, digital likeness protections, and AI accountability.

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European Commission updates guidance on generative AI use in research

The European Commission has updated the ERA Living Guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research, reflecting the growing use of AI tools across scientific work. The revised guidance aims to support researchers, research organisations and funding bodies in adopting generative AI while maintaining core principles of research integrity.

The guidelines emphasise reliability, honesty, respect and accountability, including transparency over AI use, protection of privacy and confidential information, and responsibility for research outputs. They also stress that researchers remain ultimately responsible for scientific output and should verify AI-generated results.

New recommendations address risks linked to the use of generative AI by third parties, including in meetings, note-taking, summaries and document overviews, where confidential information, data protection or intellectual property rights may be affected. The guidelines encourage researchers and organisations to inform third parties about the use of such tools and related risks.

A specific addition concerns the risk of ‘hidden prompts’, where instructions may be secretly embedded in documents or inputs to influence generative AI tools. The guidelines call on research funding organisations to remain aware of such risks, set rules prohibiting manipulation where relevant, and introduce appropriate safeguards in IT systems used to process information.

Developed through the European Research Area Forum, the guidelines are intended as a non-binding supporting tool for the research community. The Commission says they will be updated regularly and that users can continue to provide feedback as generative AI and the surrounding policy landscape evolve.

Why does it matter?

Generative AI is becoming part of everyday research workflows, from drafting and summarising to proposal preparation and document analysis. The updated guidelines show that research integrity risks now extend beyond individual misuse to organisational processes, third-party tools and hidden technical behaviours that may affect scientific judgement. Shared guidance across the European Research Area can help institutions adopt AI without weakening transparency, accountability or trust in research.

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French CNIL hosts global privacy talks in Paris

The French Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés will host the G7 roundtable of data protection and privacy authorities in June 2026. The meeting aims to strengthen international cooperation amid rapid digital and AI developments.

The roundtable, created in 2021, brings together data protection authorities from G7 countries and the EU. It focuses on sharing legal and technological developments and encouraging coordinated approaches to common challenges.

Key areas of work for 2026 include emerging technologies, enforcement cooperation and the free flow of data. The discussions are expected to address growing concerns about data protection amid expanding AI use.

The CNIL stated that the French presidency will prioritise dialogue and practical cooperation, aiming to support global governance that respects fundamental rights, and that the event will take place in Paris.

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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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White paper sets priorities for Europe’s digital sovereignty and tech competitiveness

A new whitepaper by GITEX AI Europe, in partnership with research firm LUE, outlines key priorities for strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty and long-term technological competitiveness.

The study suggests scaling AI computing power, expanding cloud infrastructure, adopting open-source standards and increasing startup investment as central pillars. These measures aim to align innovation capacity with broader economic and industrial growth.

It highlights rising demand for AI infrastructure, with data centre expansion and energy integration seen as essential. The report also stresses the need for sovereign cloud systems to ensure greater control over data, alongside the role of open-source technologies in enabling flexibility and transparency.

The whitepaper concludes that stronger investment and coordinated policy are required to support deep-tech growth and prevent talent loss, with initiatives and partnerships shaping Europe’s digital future across the continent.

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EU and Armenia deepen digital and security partnership in Yerevan

The EU and Armenia have signed a new connectivity partnership during their first bilateral summit in Yerevan, expanding cooperation across digital infrastructure, transport, energy, defence, and border management. The agreement forms part of the EU’s broader effort to strengthen political and economic ties in the South Caucasus while supporting regional stability.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the summit had taken EU-Armenia relations to a new level, with future cooperation focused on economic integration, political dialogue, and security. The partnership aligns the EU’s Cross-Regional Connectivity Agenda with Armenia’s ‘Crossroad of Peace’ initiative and introduces high-level dialogues on connectivity and transport.

The summit also launched new initiatives in digital infrastructure, semiconductor skills, innovation ecosystems, and private investment mobilisation. Brussels advanced Armenia’s visa liberalisation process, strengthened border cooperation through Frontex, and backed security cooperation through an EU Partnership Mission and €30 million in European Peace Facility assistance.

At the same time, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez used the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan to call for stronger digital governance across Europe. Speaking at a roundtable on democratic resilience and hybrid threats, he warned that digital infrastructure and social media platforms are being used to exploit democratic vulnerabilities.

Sánchez called for action in three areas: implementing the European Democracy Shield, strengthening the European Centre for Democratic Resilience, and establishing a European-level digital age of majority. He also urged a review of platform obligations under the Digital Services framework and promoted coordinated action among countries committed to defending democracy.

Alongside the summit, Sánchez met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss peace efforts, EU-Armenia relations, multilateralism, energy cooperation, and digital sovereignty.

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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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