The European Commission fined Google nearly $3.5 billion after ruling that the company had abused its dominance in digital advertising. Regulators found that Google unfairly preferred its ad exchange, AdX, in its publisher ad server and ad-buying tools, which violated EU antitrust rules.
Officials ordered Google to end these practices within 60 days and to address what they described as ‘inherent conflicts of interest’ across the adtech supply chain. Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s executive vice president, said the case showed the need to ensure that digital markets serve the public fairly, warning that more potent remedies would follow if Google failed to comply.
Google announced it would appeal, arguing that its advertising services remain competitive and that businesses have more alternatives than ever. The fine marks the EU’s second-largest competition penalty, following a record $5 billion action against Google in 2018.
The ruling drew criticism from US President Donald Trump, who accused Europe of unfairly targeting American tech firms and threatened retaliatory measures.
Trump hosted a dinner with industry executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and co-founder Sergey Brin, where he won praise for his policies on AI.
Meanwhile, Google secured partial relief in a separate antitrust case in the United States when a judge declined to impose sweeping remedies such as forcing the sale of Chrome or Android.
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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published survey results probing the ethical outlook of aviation professionals on AI deployment, released during its AI Days event in Cologne.
The AI Days conference gathered nearly 200 on-site attendees from across the globe, with even more participating online.
The survey measured acceptance, trust and comfort across eight hypothetical AI use cases, yielding an average acceptance score of 4.4 out of 7. Despite growing interest, two-thirds of respondents declined at least one scenario.
Their key concerns included limitations of AI performance, privacy and data protection, accountability, safety risks and the potential for workforce de-skilling. A clear majority called for stronger regulation and oversight by EASA and national authorities.
In a keynote address, Christine Berg from the European Commission highlighted that AI in aviation is already practical, optimising air traffic flow and predictive maintenance, while emphasising the need for explainable, reliable and certifiable systems under the EU AI Act.
Survey findings will feed into EASA’s AI Roadmap and prompt public consultations as the agency advances policy and regulatory frameworks.
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The Court rejected Zalando’s arguments and upheld the Commission’s decision. It ruled that Zalando qualifies as a VLOP due to its Partner Programme. Since Zalando could not distinguish between users exposed to third-party seller content and those who were not, the Commission was entitled to consider all 83 million users as active recipients.
The Court also dismissed Zalando’s claims that the DSA violated legal certainty, equal treatment, and proportionality principles. It highlighted the potential for large platforms to facilitate the distribution of dangerous or illegal goods. As such, Zalando remains subject to the enhanced responsibilities imposed on very large online platforms under the DSA.
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Following the agreement, the European Commission conducted further investigations to assess whether it offered adequate safeguards. On 10 July 2023, the Commission adopted an adequacy decision concluding that the USA ensures a sufficient level of protection comparable to that of the EU when transferring data from the EU to the USA, and that there is no need for supplementary data protection measures.
However, on 6 September 2023, Philippe Latombe, a member of the French Parliament, brought an action seeking annulment of the EU–US DPF.
He argued that the framework fails to ensure adequate protection of personal data transferred from the EU to the USA. Latombe also claimed that the Data Protection Review Court (DPRC), which is responsible for reviewing safeguards during such data transfers, lacks impartiality and independence and depends on the executive branch.
Finally, Latombe asserted that ‘the practice of the intelligence agencies of that country of collecting bulk personal data in transit from the European Union, without the prior authorisation of a court or an independent administrative authority, is not circumscribed in a sufficiently clear and precise manner and is, therefore, illegal.’As a result, the General Court of the EU dismissed the action for annulment, stating that:
The DPRC has sufficient safeguards to ensure judicial independence,
US intelligence agencies’ bulk data collection practices are compatible with the EU fundamental rights, and
The decision consolidates the European Commission’s ability to suspend or amend the framework if US legal safeguards change.
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The regulatory approaches to AI in the EU and Australia are diverging significantly, creating a complex challenge for the global tech sector.
Instead of a unified global standard, companies must now navigate the EU’s stringent, risk-based AI Act and Australia’s more tentative, phased-in approach. The disparity underscores the necessity for sophisticated cross-border legal expertise to ensure compliance in different markets.
In the EU, the landmark AI Act is now in force, implementing a strict risk-based framework with severe financial penalties for non-compliance.
Conversely, Australia has yet to pass binding AI-specific laws, opting instead for a proposal paper outlining voluntary safety standards and 10 mandatory guardrails for high-risk applications currently under consultation.
It creates a markedly different compliance environment for businesses operating in both regions.
For tech companies, the evolving patchwork of international regulations turns AI governance into a strategic differentiator instead of a mere compliance obligation.
Understanding jurisdictional differences, particularly in areas like data governance, human oversight, and transparency, is becoming essential for successful and lawful global operations.
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The European Commission has signed a contribution agreement with the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), assigning the agency responsibility for operating and administering the EU Cybersecurity Reserve.
The arrangement includes a €36 million allocation over three years, complementing ENISA’s existing budget.
The EU Cybersecurity Reserve, established under the EU Cyber Solidarity Act, will provide incident response services through trusted managed security providers.
The services are designed to support EU Member States, institutions, and critical sectors in responding to large-scale cybersecurity incidents, with access also available to third countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme.
ENISA will oversee the procurement of these services and assess requests from national authorities and EU bodies, while also working with the Commission and EU-CyCLONe to coordinate crisis response.
If not activated for incident response, the pre-committed services may be redirected towards prevention and preparedness measures.
The reserve is expected to become fully operational by the end of 2025, aligning with the planned conclusion of ENISA’s existing Cybersecurity Support Action in 2026.
ENISA is also preparing a candidate certification scheme for Managed Security Services, with a focus on incident response, in line with the Cyber Solidarity Act.
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President Donald Trump has threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries implementing digital taxes or regulations affecting American technology companies. His comments, made in a post on Truth Social, were interpreted as a warning to the European Union.
These measures aim to tackle illegal content, increase oversight of large online platforms, and ensure that major tech firms, such as Google, Amazon, Apple, and Meta, pay taxes in the countries where they generate revenue.
According to AP News, Trump’s administration previously argued that these taxes unfairly target US-based companies and considered tariffs on European goods in response.
The Guardian reports that Trump’s latest threat adds pressure on the UK and the EU, which have recently signed trade agreements with the US.
While the EU continues to enforce strict digital regulations and taxes, the UK has maintained its digital services tax, introduced in 2020, despite earlier criticism from US officials and a trade deal reached with the Trump administration.
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The European Union and South Korea will bring together top policymakers, industry experts, and academics for a high-level seminar on the role of AI in transforming energy systems. The event, titled ‘AI & Energy: Delivering EU and Korea’s Digital and Green Ambitions’, will take place on 27 August 2025 during the World Climate Industry Expo in Busan.
It comes at a time when AI is revolutionising global industries and driving up energy demand, with data centres alone expected to double their electricity use by 2030. Around 150 participants will explore how AI can optimise grids, boost efficiency, and make energy systems more flexible, while ensuring sustainability.
Senior European officials, including Ditte Juul Jørgensen of the European Commission and climate leaders from Finland and the Netherlands, will join Korean representatives to discuss opportunities for cooperation. The seminar builds on the momentum of international clean energy talks held a day earlier.
The discussions also align with the EU’s Affordable Energy Action Plan, which launched a consultation earlier this month to shape its 2026 Strategic Roadmap on digitalisation and AI in energy. That initiative aims to scale up innovative technologies to accelerate decarbonisation.
Meanwhile, under President Lee Jae-Myung, South Korea is pursuing its own AI-driven growth strategy, investing in ‘AI highways’ and a national coordination body to support the energy transition.
The seminar underscores the EU–Korea Green Partnership’s vision: building a clean, competitive, and digitally empowered energy future by bringing together policymakers, researchers, and industry innovators.
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The EU has engaged in talks with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to strengthen cooperation on data protection, cybersecurity, and the country’s digital economy.
The meeting was led by EU Ambassador Michael Miller and BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad ul Bari.
The EU emphasised safeguarding fundamental rights while encouraging innovation and investment. With opportunities in broadband expansion, 5G deployment, and last-mile connectivity, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s vision for a secure and inclusive digital future.
Both parties agreed to deepen collaboration, with the EU offering technical expertise under its Global Gateway strategy to help Bangladesh build a safer and more connected digital landscape.
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The European Commission will convene video game professionals in Cologne for the third consecutive year on August 20 and 21. The visit aims to follow developments in the industry, present the future EU budget, and outline opportunities under the upcoming AgoraEU programme.
EU Officials will also discuss AI adoption, new investment opportunities, and ways to protect minors in gaming. Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General of DG CONNECT, will deliver a keynote speech and join a panel titled ‘Investment in games – is it finally happening?’.
The European Commission highlights the role of gaming in Europe’s cultural diversity and innovation. Creative Europe MEDIA has already supported nearly 180 projects since 2021. At Gamescom, its booth will feature 79 companies from 24 countries, offering fresh networking opportunities to video game professionals.
The engagement comes just before the release of the second edition of the ‘European Media Industry Outlook’ report. The updated study will provide deeper insights into consumer behaviour and market trends, with a dedicated focus on the video games sector.
Gamescom remains the world’s largest gaming event, with 1,500 exhibitors from 72 nations in 2025. The event celebrates creative and technological achievements, highlighting the industry’s growing importance for Europe’s competitiveness and digital economy.
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