Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) completed a visit to Beijing and Shanghai to address pressing e-commerce challenges affecting the European single market.
The delegation studied local business models and market supervision frameworks, engaging with Chinese regulators, e-commerce platforms, and the EU company representatives.
The discussions highlighted the surge of parcels from China, which now account for 91% of small shipments to Europe, and the resulting pressures on fair competition.
MEPs stressed that regulatory compliance must be consistent across all operators, ensuring consumer protection is not compromised by disparities in market practices or enforcement gaps.
The delegation urged representatives of e-commerce platforms to implement preventive measures, reinforcing accountability in areas such as product safety, customs compliance, and the removal of unsafe goods from the market.
MEPs underscored that these standards are essential to maintaining a sustainable and secure e-commerce environment for European citizens.
The visit, the first in eight years, demonstrated the EU’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, strengthening international cooperation, and ensuring digital commerce evolves in a manner that is fair, transparent, and safe for all citizens.
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A speech by European Central Bank’s Member of Executive Board Piero Cipollone outlines how a digital euro could strengthen Europe’s resilience and autonomy in payments.
An initiative that responds to growing dependence on non-European financial infrastructure, which increasingly shapes transaction rules, costs, and access across the euro area.
According to Mr Cipollone, ‘dependence on a non-European infrastructure leaves users vulnerable to an outright withdrawal of access.‘
Most card transactions in the euro area depend on non-European schemes, while declining cash usage intensifies dependence on digital systems beyond European control.
He added that the proposed digital euro would function as a sovereign digital payment method, available online and offline, ensuring continuity and privacy.
It would also reduce reliance on foreign providers, lower transaction costs, and create a unified infrastructure supporting competition and innovation across the EU payment systems.
Beyond retail payments, the ECB emphasises a broader strategy including tokenised central bank money and distributed ledger technologies.
These measures aim to strengthen financial integration, prevent fragmentation, and ensure that the EU’s digital financial ecosystem develops on foundations aligned with its economic sovereignty.
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The European Investment Bank and the Croatian National Bank have emphasised the strategic importance of AI in strengthening Croatia’s economic competitiveness. Discussions at a joint conference focused on accelerating AI adoption through coordinated investment, policy development and skills enhancement.
Despite strong investment activity among firms in Croatia, the uptake of advanced technologies remains limited. Only a small share of companies systematically use generative AI, with applications largely confined to internal processes, highlighting significant untapped potential for productivity gains.
Participants identified key structural barriers, including limited access to finance, shortages of skilled workers and regulatory uncertainty.
Addressing these challenges requires a combined approach that mobilises private capital, improves access to funding for smaller firms and supports the development of a more robust innovation ecosystem.
The EIB continues to play a central role in Europe’s digital transformation, with major funding initiatives aimed at scaling AI technologies and strengthening strategic infrastructure.
By aligning financial instruments with policy priorities, the initiative seeks to enhance long-term growth, resilience and integration into global value chains.
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The European Patent Office (EPO) is accelerating its transition towards a fully digital patent system, with plans to implement a paperless patent-granting process by 2027.
Discussions at the latest eSACEPO meeting highlighted steady progress and broad stakeholder support for modernising patent workflows.
Electronic filing and communication are set to become the default, with paper-based processes limited to exceptional cases. The shift aims to improve efficiency and accessibility, supported by legal adjustments and the gradual introduction of structured data formats to enhance processing accuracy.
Digital tools continue to evolve, with the MyEPO platform expanding its functionality through interface upgrades, self-service features and new capabilities such as colour drawing submissions.
The rollout of DOCX filing, alongside optional PDF backups, reflects a cautious approach designed to balance innovation with reliability.
AI is increasingly integrated into patent examination processes, supporting tasks such as search and documentation.
However, the EPO maintains a human-centric model, ensuring that decision-making authority remains with patent examiners while AI enhances productivity and consistency.
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A new study argues that cookie consent banners should be scrapped, claiming they fail to protect user privacy and instead create frustration. The research highlights how repeated pop-ups have become a defining feature of the modern internet.
The paper suggests that cookie banners, originally introduced under data protection laws, have led to ‘performative compliance’ rather than meaningful consent. Users often click through notices without understanding them, weakening the purpose of privacy regulation.
Researchers say the system may even normalise data tracking by encouraging habitual acceptance. Instead of improving transparency, the approach risks obscuring how personal data is collected and used across digital platforms.
The study calls for regulators to move beyond banner-based consent towards more effective privacy protections. It argues that current rules may hinder the development of better solutions by giving the impression that the problem has already been addressed.
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Fairplay and more than 200 experts have urged YouTube to address the spread of ‘AI slop’ targeting children. The letter was sent to Sundar Pichai and Neal Mohan, along with a petition.
The signatories state that AI-generated videos harm children’s development by distorting reality and overwhelming learning processes. They also warn that such content captures attention and is being recommended to young users, including infants and toddlers.
The letter cites findings that 40% of videos following shows like Cocomelon contained AI-generated content. It also states that 21% of Shorts recommendations included similar material, and misleading science videos were shown to older children.
Fairplay and its partners propose measures, including labelling AI content and banning it from YouTube Kids. They also call for restrictions on recommendations to under-18s and for tools that allow parents to turn off such content.
The initiative was organised by Fairplay and supported by organisations and experts, including Jonathan Haidt. The group says platforms must ensure content is safe and appropriate for children.
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Microsoft will invest $5.5 billion in Singapore from 2025 to 2029 to expand cloud and AI infrastructure and operations. The announcement was made by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith at the Asia Tech x Inspire event.
Every tertiary student in Singapore will receive free access to Microsoft 365 Copilot for 12 months. More than 200,000 students will use AI tools integrated into applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
Educators will receive free AI training through Microsoft Elevate for Educators across schools and higher education institutions. Nonprofit leaders will also be supported through Microsoft Elevate for Changemakers to build practical AI skills.
Officials said the initiatives aim to strengthen workforce readiness and support responsible AI adoption. The programmes align with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 and broader efforts to expand AI literacy.
LinkedIn data shows demand for AI literacy skills in Singapore has increased by more than 70% year on year. Microsoft said the investment reflects long term confidence in Singapore as a global digital leader.
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The Fund for Digital Initiatives of the Eurasian Development Bank has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of AI and Digitalization. The agreement was signed during the Digital Qazaqstan forum held on 27 March in Shymkent.
The memorandum outlines a strategic partnership to introduce AI technologies and support digital projects. Areas of cooperation include identifying and implementing joint AI projects, exchanging expertise, and strengthening both sides’ capacities as centres of AI competence.
Also, the agreement is intended to deepen the partnership and support Kazakhstan’s strategic objectives for AI development. It also links the memorandum to wider efforts to expand cooperation between the bank’s digital initiatives fund and the ministry.
During the forum, Vice Chairman of the Management Board, Tigran Sargsyan, held a working meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of AI and Digitalization, Zhaslan Madiyev. The discussion covered prospects for broader cooperation, priority projects, and tools to support AI adoption in key sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy.
Sargsyan described 2025 as a record year for the bank in Kazakhstan, with the most projects implemented in digital public administration, platform solutions, and AI deployment. Madiyev, in turn, proposed creating a registry of Kazakhstan’s open-source e-government component solutions for possible replication across EDB member states.
The announcement presents the memorandum as part of the Eurasian Development Bank’s broader support for digital transformation and AI development across its member states.
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Public concern over big tech companies is growing in Switzerland, according to a new survey by gfs.bern conducted on behalf of the Mercator Foundation Switzerland. A large majority of respondents view major technology firms as primarily profit-driven, while also expressing unease about their broader influence on society and politics.
Survey findings show that 90% of respondents believe big tech companies are mainly motivated by profit, while 94% support stronger protections for children and young people on social media platforms. Concerns extend beyond commercial behaviour, with 84% worried about political influence from the countries where these companies are based and 82% fearing increasing dependence on firms from the United States and China.
Overall perceptions in Switzerland remain mixed: 21% of respondents express a positive view of big tech companies, 40% hold a neutral stance, and 38% report negative impressions. Similar attitudes have been observed across Europe, where surveys in countries such as France and Germany indicate that many citizens consider existing regulatory frameworks insufficient.
Despite concerns about corporate influence, attitudes towards digitalisation itself remain broadly positive. Around 58% of respondents see digitalisation as beneficial overall, and 53% believe it offers personal advantages. However, only 48% think it benefits society as a whole, while 46% perceive its impact on democratic processes as negative.
A strong majority expects public institutions to take on greater responsibility for managing digital transformation. Around 88% support government efforts to ensure transparency in AI decision-making, while 86% want human oversight in critical situations. High levels of trust in Swiss authorities suggest public backing for a more active state role in shaping digital policy and safeguarding democratic values.
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Legislative efforts in France signal a shift toward stricter governance of youth access to digital platforms, with policymakers preparing to debate a ban on social media use for children under 15.
A proposal that forms part of a broader strategy to address concerns over online harms and excessive screen exposure among adolescents.
These measures reflect increasing reliance on regulatory intervention instead of voluntary platform safeguards, as evidence links prolonged digital engagement with risks such as cyberbullying, disrupted sleep patterns and exposure to harmful content.
Political backing for the initiative has emerged from figures aligned with Emmanuel Macron, reinforcing the government’s position that stronger oversight of digital environments is necessary. The proposal also mirrors developments in Australia, where similar restrictions have already entered into force.
A debate that is further influenced by legal actions targeting major platforms, including TikTok and Meta, amid allegations that algorithmic systems contribute to harmful user experiences.
The outcome of the parliamentary discussions in France is expected to shape future approaches to child safety, platform accountability and digital rights governance across Europe.
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