From city halls to capitals, Europeans governments are now trying hard to unplug from U.S. tech — before a “kill switch” gets flipped. It's not that simple. 👇 www.politico.eu/article/euro...

The problem with Europe’s Big Tech breakup: It’s still hooked

Thanks to Trump, EU governments are trying to break their overreliance on U.S. technology. It won’t be cheap or easy.

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Europe’s digital ambitions keep running up against a familiar rift: how far should the continent go in detoxing from U.S. tech? Leaders pick up that discussion today in Brussels at #EUCO — and it’s one that will follow France and Germany to their joint tech summit in Berlin next month. 👇

EU leaders paper over splits on US tech reliance

France and Germany are not yet on the same page to detox from Big Tech.

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"If we need to go a step further to protect our kids, then why not?" a spokesperson for the EU executive said, following up on Ursula von der Leyen's backing of a "digital majority age." 👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...

EU Commission to ‘leave doors open’ for social media ban

‘If we need to go a step further to protect our kids, then why not?’ says Commission spokesperson.

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Hybrid warfare isn’t new for Europe’s frontlines. But Lithuania’s ambassador to the EU, Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, warns that Russia is dialing up GPS interference from the Kaliningrad enclave. 👇

GPS jamming threat is real, Lithuania warns EU

Countries bordering Russia have faced hybrid warfare, including GPS disruptions, for years, Vilnius says.

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The European Media Freedom Act kicks in today. But undoing years of political capture and erosion of media independence will require the EU to do more than legislate. It will need to stand up to its most authoritarian, illiberal, or populist members — and against the foot-draggers. 👇

Europe’s new media freedom law has kicked in. Will it make any difference?

Media experts fear the law may be ignored as illiberal and populist parties erode media independence.

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We’ve all been there: Calls dropping, video streaming crashing, browsers timing out, signal bars taunting you. 🛜 📶 If you’ve taken a train in Europe, you know the pain of unreliable Wi-Fi (or 5G, for that matter). This piece won't fix your next journey, but now, at least, you'll know why.

Why Europe’s train Wi-Fi never works

Railway internet sucks — and despite some bright plans, even getting decent 5G will remain hit and miss for a while.

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As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced, and survived, a vote of confidence, Russian propaganda engines went into overdrive. That's according to a confidential report that breaks down the “narrative amplification machine” engineered by the so-called Pravda network. 👇

How von der Leyen’s no-confidence vote fueled Russian propaganda

A confidential study found that a known Russian disinformation network had ramped up its posts by 60 percent while pushing the narrative that the European Commission president was “toxic.&#82…

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The European Parliament is considering revoking lobbying access for every interest group tied to Amazon. But the jury is still out after Tuesday's meeting of top lawmakers from the employment committee, who have had a bone to pick with Amazon lobbyists over what they see as repeated snubs. 👇

EU Parliament threatens wider ban on lobbyists as Amazon spat deepens

All tech lobbies associated with the e-commerce giant — including DigitalEurope, CCIA Europe and ITI — could be barred from Parliament in major escalation of fight over warehouse working conditions…

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What if Trump could flip the switch and plunge Europe into the (digital) dark? (Proud of this piece — and there’s a pretty cool animation to go with it.) 👇 ☁️ www.politico.eu/article/dona...

Trump can pull the plug on the internet, and Europe can’t do anything about it

Trump is back — and with him, the risk that the U.S. could unplug Europe from the digital world.

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...he says to Signal's president

BREAK - The European Commission has opened the door for delaying some of its flagship AI rules if guidance or standards for companies aren’t ready in time. By @mathieupollet.bsky.social & me pro.politico.eu/news/199865

Hungary is violating European Union law by cracking down on LGBTQ+ content children might be exposed to, a top adviser at the EU's highest court said today.

Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ rules breach EU law, top court adviser says

Legal opinion bolsters EU’s challenge against Viktor Orbán’s conservative culture war.

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ANALYSIS: The EU is set to deliver a sobering message to a growing movement in Europe calling for a detox from U.S. Big Tech. The message? That ain’t happening anytime soon. W/ @mathieupollet.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/euro...

Europe’s dream to wean off US tech gets reality check

As the Trump administration plays hardball, a new EU strategy puts collaboration front and center.

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Ooooow snap — Key European lawmaker Eva Maydell rebukes the EU's plan to become more technologically sovereign, arguing that "some trains have left the station" and that it's time to "sober up." Follow this and more at @politico.eu's AI & Tech Summit. www.politico.eu/article/its-...

‘Time to sober up’: Europe should be realistic on tech sovereignty, lawmaker says

The EU should “identify the few big ideas that can propel our economic and industrial base,” says Bulgaria’s Eva Maydell.

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Donald Trump's "America First" hits the big screen. The U.S. president pledged Sunday to slap a 100 percent "tariff" on movies "produced in Foreign Lands," after governments worldwide have enticed production teams with lucrative tax breaks and lower labor costs.

Trump’s movie tariff threat puzzles Europe

As U.S. productions flock overseas, Trump wants to target foreign moviemakers, opening a new front in the transatlantic trade war.

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Just in: Huawei "terminated the employment of two individuals" and suspended a third for their alleged involvement in the bribery investigation surrounding the Chinese technology giant and the European Parliament. 👇

Huawei fires two staffers in response to corruption scandal

Chinese tech giant is at the center of Belgian investigation into wrongdoing.

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The EU holds a Big Tech-shaped card in the trade war deck — but it can't decide how and when to play it. With @pieterhaeck.bsky.social and @egreechee.bsky.social. 👇

Brussels could hit Big Tech in trade spat. But how?

Digital services could be Washington’s Achilles heel but European officials are conflicted over how to strike it.

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Elon Musk says Ukraine’s front line would collapse without Starlink. The EU wants to prove him wrong — but can’t. Yet. 👇

Ukraine is stuck with Musk’s Starlink for now

Key competitor Eutelsat won’t break Starlink’s grip on Kyiv’s wartime communications overnight.

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Three Huawei employees and a Forum Europe boss were in court this week for hearings related to the corruption investigation into the Chinese tech giant's EU lobbying.

Huawei, Forum Europe staff face Belgian court hearings over corruption charges

Three Huawei employees and a managing director from Brussels conference organizer Forum Europe appeared in court.

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Huawei corruption scandal: The heat is on over a 2021 Huawei-friendly letter. Who’s caught in the storm? Who’s facing charges? How much money changed hands? We bring you the latest on the #Huaweigate with @elisabraun.bsky.social, @maxgriera.bsky.social and @benmunster.bsky.social. 👇

Belgian prosecutors probe whether Huawei paid for letter signed by 8 MEPs

Authorities are looking into whether the Chinese tech giant made illegal payments for a letter defending its interests in 2021.

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Lawmakers are demanding Roberta Metsola “set aside” any peers suspected of involvement in the Huawei bribery scandal, according to a letter signed by 28 members of the European Parliament and seen by POLITICO.

Pressure mounts on Metsola to sideline lawmakers linked to Huawei bribery probe

MEPs are demanding the Parliament president strengthen internal reporting mechanisms.

politico.eu

Don’t let your smartphone fool you. 📶 Like most Europeans, chances are you don't actually have the full-fledged 5G. While that’s fine for everyday users, the real game-changer — 5G standalone — remains largely a promise, not a reality, for the European industry. 👇

Europeans are missing out on 5G, data shows

Slow rollout of full-fledged 5G is holding Europe back while China and the U.S. race ahead.

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A new bribery case involving the Chinese tech giant Huawei — a former lobbying powerhouse — is rocking the European Parliament, echoing the 2022 Qatargate scandal. Everything we know about the sprawling corruption probe so far. 👇

Huawei bribery scandal: What we know so far

China’s 5G darling and the European Parliament are caught in a sprawling corruption probe in Belgium.

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Just back from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where I sat down with Telefónica’s new boss, Marc Murtra. His message? Europe’s Big Telcos could take on U.S. Big Tech — if the EU lets them. 👇

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Brendan Carr doubled down on the warning shot from the U.S. against EU tech laws, with the Digital Services Act’s "censorship" as his prime target. 👇

US official slams EU’s social media ‘censorship’

Federal Communications Commission chair warns that the EU’s Digital Services Act threatens censorship that is “incompatible” with U.S. free speech.

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The battle over the EU’s standard essential patents bill keeps raging on. National governments are still very divided on whether to axe the proposal. Meanwhile, a new cross-party group of lawmakers urged the European Commission to "stay firm in its decision" in a new letter. 👇

Now available for free! Read our recap of all the changes at the Commission wants to make to corporate sustainability disclosure rules: www.politico.eu/article/brus...

Brussels plans sweeping cuts to EU’s green rules, leaked bill reveals

Many businesses would be exempt from complying with sustainability reporting under the hotly anticipated omnibus proposal.

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Marianne Gros@mariannegros.bsky.social · 2y ago

SCOOP: POLITICO got its hands on a draft of the omnibus bill, which will radically simplify EU corporate disclosure rules. some hints: - reduce the scope of CSDDD to direct suppliers - scrap civil liability - changes to which companies fall within the scope of CSRD pro.politico.eu/news/194487 (€)

What’s brewing at the upcoming India-EU Trade and Technology Council? We got our hands on the draft joint statement — here’s what to expect. With @camgijs.bsky.social, @jordyndahl.bsky.social.👇👀

EU and India to inch closer on trade, EVs and chips at upcoming meet

Ursula von der Leyen is leading her new College of Commissioners on their first visit to India.

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The European Commission is drafting a new Cable Security Action Plan — with more funding, surveillance and diplomacy to safeguard Europe’s subsea infrastructure. 👇📄 pro.politico.eu/news/194303

Elon Musk's Starlink mega constellation beams internet from space, but will Europe care? 🚀📶 With solid broadband coverage and low prices already in place, cracking this market won’t be easy for satellite internet providers. 👇

Musk’s Starlink isn’t ready to rule Europe’s internet airwaves

Elon Musk’s satellites aren’t — yet — competing to serve Europeans’ everyday internet needs.

politico.eu