EU Digital & Tech

The online world can look safe…  🔍 Until you zoom in: disinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech. That’s why the Digital Services Act (DSA) is here — making big platforms more responsible and users better protected. → Learn more: https://europa.eu/!VQ9TQp. #DigitalEU #DigitalServicesAct #DSA

🔞 Are you worried about kids' online safety?   From harmful content to unwanted contact or addictive design, there are many risks awaiting children on online platforms.   Today, we’ve taken a significant step forward in strengthening children’s online safety by adopting the guidelines on the protection of minors under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and making available a blueprint for age-verification is a significant step in strengthening online safety for children.   The guidelines on the protection of minors provide a detailed and ambitious framework for online platforms to ensure kids enjoy a high level of privacy, safety and security online. Among other things, the guidelines include recommendations to address addictive design, cyberbullying, harmful content and unwanted contact from strangers.   The prototype of an age-verification app outlines a user-friendly and privacy-preserving method for age verification online. It sets a high-standard approach to how users can easily prove they are over 18 when accessing restricted adult content online, while keeping their personal information safe.   Find out more how the EU strengthens online safety for minors ↓ 🔗 Press release: https://europa.eu/!BKxcW3 🔗 The guidelines: https://europa.eu/!QvQBqR 🔗 The prototype of the age verification app: https://europa.eu/!hmVc9W

Help shape how media service providers can use the declaration tool under the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)!   The Commission is seeking feedback on guidelines it will issue to help protect media service providers from having their content removed unwarrantedly from very large online platforms (VLOPs) - those with over 45 million monthly users.   Article 18 of the EMFA introduces a set of safeguards for media service providers related to the moderation of their content by providers of VLOPs when such moderation is based on the relevant terms and conditions. The guidelines will facilitate the effective implementation of specific safeguards outlined in the EMFA.   The consultation is targeted at stakeholders expected to be involved in the implementation of the functionality, including providers of VLOPs, media service providers, civil society organizations and fact-checking organisations.   Send your contribution by 23 July 2025 → https://europa.eu/!8xkgW7   #MediaFreedomAct #DigitalEU

Here's your weekly #DigitalDigest:   🔹 The Rule of Law Report signals a positive trajectory in the key areas covered, including on media freedom. ▪ https://europa.eu/!FMb9Kp   🔹 Roaming extension for affordable calls to and from Ukraine has been prolonged by 6 months. ▪ https://europa.eu/!fXwHGF   🔹 Tech industry players, as well as child safety organisation, digital and consumer rights groups are welcome to share their insights on age verification tools under the Digital Services Act by 23 July. ▪ https://europa.eu/!XH7kW9 ▪ https://europa.eu/!JbK6Hr   🔹 The final version of the voluntary Code of Practice on General-Purpose AI will help industry comply with the AI Act's rules on general-purpose AI, which will enter into application on 2 August 2025. ▪ https://europa.eu/!kRgr8b

Share your expert insights on age assurance in app stores until 23 July!   As digital platforms increasingly shape social, informational and everyday lives of minors, ensuring their safety online is a key policy priority of the Digital Services Act.   Under the DSA, the Google Play Store and Apple App Store have been designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), due to their central role in promoting and distributing apps to over 45 million users per month in the EU.   These surveys aim to gather input on:   🔹 The measures implemented by Apple’s App Store and Google Play to protect minors 🔹 Age assurance mechanisms such as sign-up procedures, age verification, parental controls, age ratings, and gating mechanisms   🔗 Are you a tech industry player? Take the survey for the industry: https://europa.eu/!XH7kW9   🔗 Are you part of a child safety organisation, consumer protection and digital rights group? Access this survey: https://europa.eu/!JbK6Hr   Your feedback will support the Commission’s work to safeguard the online safety of minors under the DSA, and it will provide a detailed mapping of how the app stores ensure a high level of protection for youths.   #DigitalServicesAct #DSA #DigitalEU

The final version of the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice is now available!   This voluntary tool written by independent experts, with input from over a thousand stakeholders, will help AI providers comply with the AI Act’s rules on general-purpose AI.   These rules will enter into application on 2 August 2025 ensuring that general-purpose AI models placed on the EU market, including the most powerful ones, are safe and transparent.   The Code is divided into three chapters:   🔸 Transparency – dedicated to all providers of general-purpose AI models, facilitating compliance with the regulatory obligations of the AI Act to ensure sufficient transparency. 🔸 Copyright – also addresses all providers of general-purpose AI models and helps to meet the AI Act's obligation for developing a policy to comply with EU copyright law, without impacting its application. 🔸 Safety and Security – relevant only to a limited number of providers of the most advanced models and containing relevant state-of-the-art practices for systemic risk management.   Read more: https://europa.eu/!kRgr8b Access the Code of Practice: https://europa.eu/!KMGYxc   #AIinEurope

⚛️ Quantum decoded ⚛️ Dive into the fascinating world of quantum technology with our Glossary. From Quantum Computing to Quantum Cryptography, discover what these terms mean — and how Europe is leading the way towards a quantum-powered future. 🔗 Discover the European Quantum Strategy: https://europa.eu/!WMbcnB

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 The 2025 Rule of Law Report highlights significant gains in media freedom as EU nations work to meet the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) requirements. These efforts focus on ensuring the fair allocation of state advertising and the independent governance of public service media. Many member states are implementing legislation to align with the EMFA and the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). However, challenges persist. Some member states face concerns regarding the independence or impartiality of media regulators, with inadequate safeguards against political influence remaining a significant hurdle. Similar issues are seen in enlargement countries, where media regulator politicisation and financial sustainability of public broadcasters warrant attention. To overcome these challenges, a renewed commitment is needed to ensure media regulators are free from undue influence, safeguarding media freedom and pluralism as pillars of democracy.   Learn more: https://europa.eu/!FMb9Kp

💯 By 2030, 100% of EU citizens are expected to have access to their electronic health records.   How is the EU performing in view of the target date? As of 31 December 2024, the EU Member States scored on average 83%, which represents a 4 points increase compared to the previous year. While progress is being made in areas like identification, personal information, ePrescription, and eDispensation, further efforts are needed to reach the 100% coverage goal.   The 2025 e-Health Indicator Study provides insights on the advancements of EU Member States, as well as Norway and Iceland, in this area. 🔗 To learn more about the progress toward universal coverage in e-Health, read the full report: https://europa.eu/!YWGnPk #DigitalDecade #DigitalEU

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬?   The State of the Digital Decade Report analysed the progress of the European Union in four key areas:   🔹 Digital Infrastructure 🔹 Digital Transformation of Businesses 🔹 Digital Skills 🔹 Digital Public Services   Deployment of fibre and 5G stand-alone networks are still progressing too slowly and the uptake of key technologies like AI, cloud and data analytics in small and medium enterprises is also facing some challenges.   Digital skills remain an ongoing concern, with just over half of the EU population having basic digital skills and the shortage of ICT specialists persisting, however the deployment of digital public services is advancing steadily towards 100%.   Full report: https://europa.eu/!vVx3nm Reports by country: https://europa.eu/!MxHGMn Factsheet: https://europa.eu/!Dc7pKR   #DigitalEU #DigitalDecade