European privacy authorities have raised concerns about proposed changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation that could require travellers to the US to disclose extensive personal information, including social media activity.
The European Data Protection Board, which coordinates national data protection authorities across the EU, sent a letter to the European Commission asking whether the institution plans to intervene or respond to the updated requirements.
A proposal that would apply to visitors entering the US through the visa-waiver programme for short stays of up to 90 days.
Authorities could also request personal data about family members, including addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth, information that privacy regulators argue is unrelated to travel authorisation.
Watchdogs also questioned how EU citizens could exercise their data protection rights once such information is transferred to US authorities, particularly regarding storage periods and potential misuse.
Parallel negotiations between the EU and the US have also attracted attention.
Discussions around a potential Enhanced Border Security Partnerships framework could allow US authorities to seek access to biometric databases held by European countries, including facial scans and fingerprint records.
European privacy regulators warned that such measures could raise significant concerns regarding fundamental rights and personal data protection for travellers from the EU.
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European regulators are examining how the Digital Markets Act interacts with the General Data Protection Regulation across major digital platforms. The EU rules apply to designated gatekeepers that operate core platform services used by millions of users.
Policy specialists in the EU say the Digital Markets Act complements GDPR protections by strengthening user control over personal data. The framework also supports rights related to data access, portability and transparency for both consumers and business users.
The regulatory overlap affects areas including consent requirements, third-party software installation and interoperability between services. Authorities are also coordinating enforcement between competition and data protection regulators.
Analysts say the combined application of both laws could reshape the responsibilities of major technology platforms. Policymakers aim to increase user choice while reinforcing safeguards for the integrity and confidentiality of personal data in the GDPR.
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Cybersecurity risks are increasing as digital connectivity expands across governments, businesses and households.
According to Thales Group, a growing number of connected devices and digital services has significantly expanded the potential entry points for cyberattacks.
AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape by enabling attackers to identify vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed.
Security specialists increasingly describe the environment as a contest in which defensive systems must deploy AI to counter adversaries using similar technologies to exploit weaknesses in digital infrastructure.
Security concerns also extend beyond large institutions. Connected devices in homes, including smart cameras and speakers, often lack robust security protections, increasing exposure for individuals and networks.
Policymakers in Europe are responding through measures such as the Cyber Resilience Act, which will introduce mandatory security requirements for connected products sold in the EU.
Long-term risks are also emerging from advances in quantum computing.
Experts warn that powerful future machines could eventually break widely used encryption systems that currently protect communications, financial data and government networks, prompting organisations to adopt quantum-resistant security methods.
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The European Parliament has adopted a report urging policymakers to establish a long-term framework protecting copyrighted works used in AI training.
These recommendations aim to ensure that creative industries retain transparency and fair treatment as generative AI technologies expand.
Among the central proposals is the creation of a European register managed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The database would list copyrighted works used to train AI systems and identify creators who have chosen to exclude their content from such use.
Lawmakers in the EU are also calling for greater transparency from AI developers, including disclosure of the websites from which training data has been collected. According to the report, failing to meet transparency requirements could raise questions about compliance with existing copyright rules.
The recommendations have received mixed reactions from industry stakeholders.
Organisations representing creators argue that stronger safeguards are necessary to ensure fair remuneration and legal clarity, while technology sector groups caution that additional requirements could create complexity for companies developing AI systems.
The report is not legally binding but signals the political direction of ongoing European discussions on copyright and AI governance.
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Businesses in the Netherlands rank among the leading adopters of sustainable ICT practices in the EU, according to data from Statistics Netherlands and Eurostat. Around one quarter of companies use digital tools to reduce material consumption and improve resource efficiency.
The Netherlands ranked fourth in the EU for the use of technology to reduce waste and improve sustainability. Sectors including energy, water and waste management showed the strongest adoption of these ICT solutions.
Sustainable disposal of electronic equipment is also widespread among businesses in the Netherlands. About 9 in 10 companies recycle or return obsolete ICT equipment through approved e-waste collection systems.
Across the EU, more than three-quarters of businesses now dispose of outdated technology in environmentally responsible ways. Analysts say progress highlights growing corporate efforts to integrate the sustainability of e-waste into digital operations.
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The Council of the European Union is examining a compromise proposal that could introduce restrictions on certain AI systems capable of generating sensitive synthetic images.
The discussions form part of ongoing adjustments to the EU AI Act.
Policymakers are considering ways to prevent the development or deployment of systems that could produce such material while maintaining proportionate rules for legitimate AI applications.
Early indications suggest the proposal may not apply to images depicting people in standard clothing contexts, such as swimwear. The distinction reflects policymakers’ effort to define the scope of restrictions without imposing unnecessary limits on common image-generation uses.
The debate highlights broader regulatory challenges linked to generative AI technologies. European institutions are seeking to strengthen protections against harmful uses of AI while preserving space for innovation and lawful digital services.
Further negotiations among the EU institutions are expected as lawmakers continue refining how these provisions could fit within the broader European framework governing AI.
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A draft initiative from the European Commission seeks to introduce a new legal structure designed to simplify how companies operate across the EU.
The proposal, often referred to as the ‘EU Inc’ initiative, explores the creation of a so-called ’28th regime’ that would exist alongside national corporate frameworks used by member states.
A concept that aims to provide startups and technology firms with a single legal structure that applies across the EU.
Instead of navigating different national rules in each country, companies could operate under a unified regulatory model intended to reduce administrative barriers and encourage cross-border innovation.
According to the draft, the initiative may rely on an EU regulation rather than separate national legislation. Such an approach could enable faster implementation, as the EU regulations apply directly across all member states without requiring domestic transposition.
However, the legal basis of the proposal could raise institutional concerns. Using a regulation as the primary mechanism may constitute an unconventional shortcut in the EU lawmaking, potentially sparking debate among policymakers over the approach’s scope and legitimacy.
The initiative reflects broader efforts within the Union to simplify regulatory frameworks and strengthen the competitiveness of European startups. If adopted, the ‘EU Inc’ model could reshape how young companies expand across the single market.
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Food safety monitoring across the EU is receiving a technological upgrade with the launch of TraceMap, a new AI platform designed to detect food fraud, contamination and disease outbreaks more quickly.
The European Commission introduced the tool as part of efforts to strengthen consumer protection and improve oversight of the agri-food supply chain.
TraceMap helps authorities analyse large volumes of data related to food production, distribution and trade. By identifying connections between operators, shipments and supply chains, the system allows investigators to spot suspicious activity and potential safety risks earlier.
National authorities in the EU member states can already access the platform, enabling them to conduct more targeted inspections and investigations without requiring additional resources.
The platform draws on data from existing EU systems such as the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). Using AI to structure and interpret information, TraceMap can reveal patterns in production and trade flows that may indicate contamination, fraud, or other irregularities in the food supply chain.
Early testing of the platform has already demonstrated its practical value. A pilot version of TraceMap helped authorities identify and recall infant milk formula produced with contaminated ARA oil originating from China.
European officials say the system will strengthen the EU’s ability to respond rapidly to food safety risks while improving monitoring of both domestic production and imported products.
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Capitals across the EU are being asked to discuss how stronger child protection measures should be incorporated into the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA).
The initiative comes as policymakers attempt to address growing concerns about how online platforms expose minors to harmful content, manipulative design practices, and unsafe digital environments.
According to a document circulated during Cyprus’s Council presidency of the European Union, member states are expected to debate which concrete safeguards should be introduced as part of the broader consumer protection framework.
The discussions are part of the European Union’s broader effort to strengthen digital governance and consumer protection across online platforms. Policymakers are increasingly focusing on how platform design, recommendation algorithms, and monetisation models may affect younger users.
The proposals could complement existing EU regulations targeting large digital platforms, while expanding protections specifically focused on minors.
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Courts across Europe are examining how copyright law applies to AI systems trained on large datasets. Judges in Europe are reviewing whether existing rules allow AI developers to use copyrighted books, music and journalism without permission.
One closely watched dispute in Luxembourg involves a publisher challenging Google over summaries produced by its Gemini chatbot. The case before the EU court in Luxembourg could test how press publishers’ rights apply to AI-generated outputs.
Legal experts warn the ruling in Luxembourg may not resolve wider questions about AI training data. Many disputes in Europe focus on the EU copyright directive and its text and data mining exception.
Additional lawsuits across Europe involving music rights group GEMA and OpenAI are expected to continue for years. Policymakers in Europe are also considering updates to copyright rules as AI technology expands.
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