18 – 25 April 2025

Dear readers,
The past week has delivered another wave of developments redefining the digital world. Legal battles involving Big Tech took centre stage on both sides of the Atlantic, with the EU and the USA involved in antitrust disputes, amid an escalating global trade war that may be fuelling this regulatory reckoning.
The EU has imposed its first fines under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), targeting Apple and Meta for anti-competitive practices. Apple faces a €500 million penalty for restricting app developers from directing users to alternative purchasing options outside its App Store. Meta has been fined €200 million for its ‘consent or pay’ model, which required users to either consent to personalised ads or pay a fee for an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram.
Meta is also facing fresh legal backlash in France as 67 French media companies representing over 200 publications filed a lawsuit alleging unfair competition in the digital advertising market.
European regulators are putting pressure on Big Tech, with Alphabet’s Google and Elon Musk’s X expected to be the next in line for penalties under the EU’s tough new digital rules. Despite US President Donald Trump’s objections, the EU appears undeterred, viewing the DMA as a veiled tariff on American tech firms.
On the other side of the Atlantic, we have the Google antitrust court case in the USA, where the US Department of Justice (DOJ) added the AI-driven search monopoly accusation to its court file. Namely, the DOJ launched its opening arguments in a long-awaited landmark antitrust trial against Google, aiming to curb the tech giant’s dominance in online search and prevent it from leveraging AI to entrench its position further.
One of the potential conditions for Google to comply with regulatory requirements may involve divesting its Chrome browser, for which OpenAI has expressed acquisition interest.
South Korea’s data protection authority has flagged serious privacy concerns over the operations of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, accusing the company of transferring personal data and user-generated content abroad without consent.
Speaking of cryptocurrency, Paul Atkins has officially been sworn in as the 34th Chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Known for his pro-crypto stance, Atkins is expected to bring much-needed clarity to digital asset regulations.
Dutch banking giant ING is preparing to launch a Euro-based stablecoin. It is teaming up with other financial institutions to form a consortium.
Staying in the Netherlands, Adyen, the Dutch payment processor, fell victim to three coordinated DDoS attacks on Monday evening, severely disrupting debit card and online payments.
A viral development of the past seven days is the story about a controversial new startup called Cluely, which has secured $5.3 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered tool designed to help users ‘cheat on everything,’ from job interviews to exams.
To finish, the blog: Dr Jovan Kurbalija, the Director of Diplo, is dealing with AI and linguistics this time. In his blog ‘Linguists in the AI era: From resistance to renaissance,’ he introspects the shift from initial scepticism among linguists to a newfound synergy, as AI tools enhance language analysis, translation, and cultural understanding in diplomacy.
For the main updates and reflections, consult the Radar and Reading Corner below.
DW Team
RADAR
Highlights from the week of 18 – 25 April 2025
The EU has fired its first regulatory shot under the Digital Markets Act, fining Apple €500M and Meta €200M for anti-competitive practices. As US-EU digital tensions grow, the tech giants…
Prosecutors are calling for sweeping measures, including the sale of Chrome and a breakup of exclusive deals with device makers, including its Gemini app installed on Samsung devices, which reinforces…
Cluely’s founders say their tool challenges outdated norms, but critics warn it could erode trust in recruitment and education.
CISA has extended MITRE’s contract to operate the CVE program for 11 months, ensuring continuity of vulnerability tracking services. Meanwhile, a new non-profit CVE Foundation has been established to support…
Low-cost retailers face up to 145% tariffs under revised US trade rules.
Analysts warn of potential sell pressure as 40 million TRUMP tokens prepare to hit the market.
Three DDoS attacks disrupted payment services on Monday, with full functionality only restored by 3:40 am, severely impacting Adyen’s operations.
With over 20 years in capital markets, Paul Atkins takes charge at the SEC, eyeing reforms for digital asset regulations.
Nick Turley revealed OpenAI lacks a deal with Google and struggles to expand ChatGPT’s presence on Android despite a successful Apple partnership.
Digital asset exchanges like Kraken are expanding into traditional finance, highlighting the growing synergy between digital assets and Wall Street.
Researchers warn of a phishing campaign using video call links to compromise Microsoft 365 accounts of NGOs focused on Ukraine and human rights issues.
READING CORNER
In the context of Geneva’s multilingual landscape, the rise of AI has sparked both concern and opportunity within the linguistic community. While AI will automate many translation and interpretation tasks, linguists are essential for addressing the limitations of AI, particularly in navigating syntax and semantics.
The Cuban Missile Crisis pushed humanity to the edge of catastrophe—but it also revealed the quiet strength of diplomacy. In a tense standoff between superpowers, backchannel negotiations and mutual restraint averted disaster.
Why do ~80% of us say ‘please’ & ‘thank you’ to AI like ChatGPT? Explore the psychology, hidden costs, and what our AI politeness reveals about our humanity.
Trainers, labs, surgeons, psychologists – all boost performance. But doping? That’s banned. Is the real scandal the drugs – or the unequal coronas of support? Aldo Matteucci examines.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Demystifying AI: How to prepare international organisations for AI transformation? 🗓️ 29 April 2025 | 🕐 13:00–14:00 CEST
Diplo Academy will launch the Humanitarian Diplomacy online diploma course on 16 September 2024 in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Stay updated on courses by subscribing to their newsletter.
The conference, organised by Medicus Mundi Schweiz, will provide a platform for examining the evolving role of AI and digital technologies in shaping public health and sexual and reproductive health…
Trump and tech: After 100 days Date: 30 April 2025Time: 10.00 EST | 14.00 UTC | 16.00 CESTDuration: 90 minutesLocation: Online