Concerns over data protection have intensified as the European Commission calls on major technology companies to apply the EU standards when handling sensitive staff information linked to digital regulation.
Pressure follows requests from the US House Judiciary Committee seeking access to communications between US firms and the EU officials involved in enforcing laws such as the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act.
The EU officials emphasise that formal exchanges with companies take place through official channels, including documented correspondence, rather than informal messaging platforms. Internal communication practices may involve encrypted tools, reflecting growing concerns about data security and external scrutiny.
Debate surrounding the issue reflects wider tensions between the EU and the US over digital governance, privacy protections and regulatory authority. Questions over jurisdiction and access to sensitive communications are likely to remain central as transatlantic tech policy evolves.
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Calls for an EU-wide digital services tax are growing, as Pasquale Tridico, chair of the European Parliament’s subcommittee on tax matters, urged Brussels to act despite strong opposition from the US. He argued that such a measure would make Europe’s tax system fairer in a market dominated by foreign tech firms.
Tensions have increased as Washington threatens tariffs on countries introducing digital taxes targeting major platforms. Existing national levies in countries like France contrast with the absence of a unified EU approach due to member state control over taxation.
The proposal comes amid wider strain in transatlantic relations, with disputes over trade, regulation and influence on EU policymaking. US criticism has also focused on European rules such as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
Supporters argue that a digital tax would apply equally to global companies, not only US firms, while addressing imbalances between sectors. Digital businesses can generate large profits without the same physical costs faced by traditional industries.
Further proposals include new approaches to taxing wealth, reflecting how digitalisation blurs the line between income and capital. Advocates say such reforms are needed to adapt taxation to the modern economy.
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Despite speculation that the feature was expanding internationally, OpenAI has clarified that advertisements in ChatGPT are currently available only to users in the US.
Questions about a broader rollout emerged after references to advertisements appeared in the platform’s updated privacy policy. Some users interpreted the language as evidence that advertising would soon be introduced globally.
OpenAI said the policy update does not signal an immediate expansion. According to the company, advertising features are still being tested within the US as part of a gradual deployment strategy.
ChatGPT advertisements were introduced in February 2026 and appear below responses generated by the chatbot. The ads are shown only to logged-in users on free subscription tiers and are not displayed to users under eighteen.
Company representatives stated that advertising systems operate independently from the AI model that generates responses. According to OpenAI, advertisers cannot influence or modify the content produced by ChatGPT.
The company also said it does not share user conversations or personal chat histories with advertisers. However, advertisements may still be personalised based on user queries, which has prompted discussions about how conversational interfaces could shape consumer decisions.
OpenAI indicated that it is adopting a cautious, phased approach before considering any wider rollout of ChatGPT advertising features in other markets.
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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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AI developers are working on new defences against prompt-injection attacks that aim to manipulate AI agents. Security specialists warn that attackers are increasingly using social engineering techniques to influence AI systems that interact with online content.
Researchers say AI agents that browse the web or handle user tasks face growing risks from hidden instructions embedded in emails or websites. Experts in the US note that attackers often attempt to trick AI into revealing sensitive information.
Engineers are responding by designing systems that limit the impact of manipulation attempts. Developers in the US say AI tools must include safeguards preventing sensitive data from being transmitted without user approval.
Security teams are also introducing technologies that detect risky actions and prompt users for confirmation. Specialists argue that strong system design and user oversight will remain essential as AI agents gain more autonomy.
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Executives across the US are increasingly using a metric known as labour cost margin to evaluate workforce needs in the AI era. Business leaders in the US say the measure reflects how companies balance human labour with expanding technology investments.
A KPMG survey of 100 US CEOs shows strong corporate commitment to AI spending. Nearly 80 percent of executives allocate at least five percent of capital budgets to AI projects.
The workforce impact remains uncertain despite growing investment. Many executives expect AI to change job composition rather than eliminate roles.
Companies are hiring new technology-focused roles, including AI strategists and workflow coordinators. Analysts say repetitive office tasks in the US may face the greatest risk from automation.
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The European Union’s data protection watchdog has urged stronger safeguards as negotiations continue with the US over access to biometric databases. European Data Protection Supervisor Wojciech Wiewiórowski said limits must ensure Europeans’ data is used only for agreed purposes.
Talks between the EU and the US involve potential arrangements that would allow US authorities to query national biometric systems. Databases across the EU contain sensitive information, including fingerprints and facial recognition data.
Past transatlantic data-sharing agreements between the two have faced legal challenges due to insufficient safeguards. European regulators are closely monitoring the Data Privacy Framework amid ongoing concerns about oversight.
Officials also warned that emerging AI technologies could create new surveillance risks linked to US data access. European authorities said they must negotiate as a unified bloc when dealing with the US.
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Businesses across the US and Europe are confronting new privacy risks as AI transcription tools spread through workplaces. Tools that automatically record and transcribe meetings increasingly capture sensitive conversations without clear consent.
Privacy specialists warn that organisations in the US and Europe previously focused on rules controlling what employees upload into AI systems. Governance efforts now shift towards monitoring what AI tools record during daily work.
AI services such as Otter, Zoom transcription and Microsoft Copilot can record discussions involving performance reviews, health information and legal matters. Companies in the US and Europe face legal exposure when third-party platforms store recordings without strict controls.
Governance teams in the US and Europe are being urged to introduce clear rules on meeting recordings and retention of transcripts. Stronger policies may include consent requirements, limits on recording sensitive meetings and stricter data storage oversight.
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OneTrust has entered a new leadership phase in the US after appointing John Heyman as chief executive, replacing founder Kabir Barday. Barday will remain on the board in an advisory role as the US-based compliance technology firm continues to push into AI governance.
John Heyman said organisations across the US and globally are rapidly integrating AI into daily operations. Companies deploying large numbers of AI agents increasingly need tools to manage risk, data use and regulatory compliance.
OneTrust believes demand for governance technology will grow as AI systems multiply inside businesses in the US and worldwide. John Heyman described a future where automated monitoring tools oversee AI agents operating within company systems.
Leadership at OneTrust in the US aims to build systems that track how AI agents collect and share data while maintaining enterprise control. Growing adoption of AI in the US and globally continues to drive demand for responsible governance platforms.
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Europe is building a federated cloud and AI infrastructure intended to reduce reliance on US and Chinese technology providers and avoid ongoing strategic vulnerability.
The project, known as EURO-3C, was announced in Barcelona by Telefónica and is backed by the European Commission. More than seventy organisations across telecommunications, technology and emerging companies have joined the effort.
Architects of the scheme argue that linking national infrastructures into a shared network of nodes offers a realistic path forward, particularly as Europe cannot easily create a hyperscale cloud provider from scratch.
The initiative follows a series of US cloud outages that exposed the risks of excessive dependence on external infrastructure and raised questions about sovereignty, resilience and long-term competitiveness.
Commission officials described the programme as a way to build a secure cross-border digital ecosystem that supports industries such as automotive, e-health, public administration and sovereign government cloud.
Telefónica stressed that agentic AI, capable of taking autonomous actions, will play a central role in enabling Europe to develop technology rather than import it.
The partners view the project as a foundation for a unified and independent digital environment that strengthens industrial supply chains and prepares European sectors for the next phase of cloud and AI adoption.
They present the initiative as a significant step toward reducing strategic exposure while stimulating domestic innovation.
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