The Tech Brief

Digital technologies and the rise of online platforms have reshaped the way that we produce, share and consume news, but the concept of media freedom has seen comparatively little change. As threats to journalists increase, however, authorities around the world, including the EU, are asking how protections can be updated to keep pace with digitalisation. On this week’s podcast, we hear from the authors of a new report exploring the relationship between media freedom and technological development.  

After having heard the views of European tech companies on the Digital Markets Act (DMA), we have spoken to Adam Cohen, Google’s director of economic policy, to hear the perspective of what is likely to be labelled as a ‘gatekeeper’. The discussion focuses on the difference between legitimate competition and what constitutes abuse of market dominance, as well as how to conciliate technological innovation with antitrust regulation.

German elections are eventually upon us. As the EU largest economy heads to the first polls of the post-Markel era, EURACTIV’s correspondent in Germany Oliver Noyan helps us decode the positions of the main German parties in relation to key digital issues: digital sovereignty, competition policy, content moderation, data retention, biometric recognition. Will the new German government change its current approach to digital policy? 

Interview with Trivago CEO Axel Hefer and the Managing Director of Visual Meta Johannes Kotte on the perspective of European tech companies on the Digital Markets Act.

We take a look at the upcoming digital trends and challenges as presented in the European Commission’s strategic oversight report.

The economic impact of the semiconductor shortage has prompt all major industrial players to ramp up their investments. We discuss what the EU done so far, and if it is working.

The green and digital transitions rank on top of the EU agenda, but as far as digital devices are concerned, they do not really go together. We take a closer look at right to repair, how tech companies are preventing independent repairs and what the EU should do about it.

Introducing merger regulations for Big Tech is at the centre of the debate for competition policy. Yet we know very little about these ‘killer acquisitions’. A new research sheds some light on this phenomenon, and its consequences for competitors and consumers.

The French historical ambitions are now eyeing digital sovereignty as its next frontier of grandeur. We take a deeper look at the state of play of France’s tech strategy and the challenges that lay ahead.

This week Slovenia has entered the international human rights watchlist for the repeated attacks on the press. We have taken a closer look at the country’s declining media freedom.