All articles tagged with #eu regulation
EU regulators have charged Meta with failing to curb 'addictive design' on Facebook and Instagram—such as autoplay and infinite scroll—that may drive excessive teen use, while Meta defends its steps and the Commission weighs reforms under the Digital Services Act, with penalties up to 6% of annual turnover.
Europe’s DMA plan to force anonymized search-data sharing with rivals and to loosen Gemini’s Android AI dominance could create privacy and security risks, Google argues, noting anonymization is hard and de-anonymization is possible; regulators still aim to curb Google’s gatekeeper power with a final decision due by July 27.
Apple’s Siri AI upgrades unveiled at WWDC 2026 won’t be available on iOS or iPadOS in the EU or China this year due to regulatory hurdles, with EU regulators rejecting Apple’s proposed safety/privacy solution; Apple will still roll out Siri AI on macOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27 in the EU, while China awaits regulatory clearance.
Nintendo confirms a Switch 2 hardware revision with an OS-modified model (OSM) to comply with EU battery rules, signaling easier battery removal (no adhesives, standard tools) and potential Joy‑Con and Pro Controller updates. The policy requires replacement batteries for up to five years after discontinuation and could spur third‑party, higher-capacity cells. The changes target a February 18, 2027 effective date.
Nintendo confirmed an EU-compliant Switch 2 variant with swappable batteries is in development for 2027 to meet the EU's right-to-repair rules (models with prefix 'BEE' and 'OSM' on packaging). These EU-only versions will be sold as regulatory products within the EU and likely won't release outside the region; the move comes as the EU battery rules take effect in 2027 and after Nintendo's May 2026 price increase to €500. The Switch 2, released in 2025, already offers a bigger screen and improved performance as part of Nintendo's ongoing hardware evolution.
Nintendo says it will release EU-specific Switch 2 versions with user-replaceable batteries to meet a new EU regulation taking effect February 18, 2027. The exact battery-change changes haven’t been detailed, and current Switch 2 battery removal is a multi-step process per iFixit; it’s unclear whether revised models will be available in other regions, and Nintendo did not comment.
The European Commission plans to regulate 'addictive design' features on TikTok and Instagram—such as endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications—and push for stronger age-verification tools to keep minors off the platforms. A legal proposal could be ready by summer after expert-panel input, reflecting a global push to protect children from online harms.
EU regulators press Anthropic to share Mythos—an ultra-advanced hacking AI—with European authorities for risk assessment, with ENISA and the AI Office slated to gain access by August 2026; Anthropic skipped a parliamentary hearing, prompting calls for a European mitigation plan amid banking-sector concerns and widening US‑EU tech governance tensions.
Brussels says Meta isn’t doing enough to block under-13s on Instagram and Facebook and is pushing for stronger design changes and a new EU-wide age-verification app; under the Digital Services Act, Meta could face fines up to 6% of global revenue if found in breach, and the Commission is seeking remedies alongside ongoing reviews of Meta’s design and risk assessments.
After UN R-171 Level 2 approval, Tesla will require Dutch drivers to pass a short on-screen two-question safety quiz before enabling FSD (Supervised), ensuring users understand when FSD is active and that the driver remains responsible. The rollout also includes a two-tier FSD subscription for Netherlands owners and a phased HW4 rollout, marking Europe’s first major FSD deployment.
Nintendo plans a Switch 2 revision in the EU with replaceable batteries for the console and Joy-Cons to comply with upcoming EU right-to-repair rules; the current version reportedly has a glued-in battery, Japan specs would stay the same, and Nintendo hasn’t commented yet. If the change expands beyond the EU, it could boost repairability as devices age toward longer lifespans.
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal called freedom.gov to let people in Europe and other regions view content blocked by local governments, potentially with a VPN function; the plan, led by Sarah Rogers, was expected to be unveiled at a security conference but was delayed, and some lawyers have raised concerns about censorship circumvention and diplomatic tension with Europe.
The European Commission has told TikTok to change features it deems contribute to addictive usage and could fine the platform up to 6% of its global turnover (potentially tens of billions) if it fails to comply. The regulator criticized how TikTok assessed risks to wellbeing, especially for children, and suggested remedies such as screen-time breaks, algorithm changes, and disabling infinite scroll. TikTok disputes the findings and will respond, as regulators press for “responsible design” across platforms.
EU regulators say TikTok’s infinite scroll, autoplay, and recommendation algorithm foster compulsive use and may violate online-safety laws, prompting potential changes to protect users’ physical and mental well-being, especially children.
European businesses are underutilizing AI due to strict regulations and overregulation concerns from Brussels, leading top AI talent to move to Silicon Valley; EU aims to address this by reforming policies and ensuring fair competition among tech giants.