The Tech Brief

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief podcast, my name is Samuel Stolton and each week, I aim to bring you some of the most relevant and timely technology stories in the world of EU politics and policy. This week, we take a look at the latest hearing of Big Tech's Zuckerberg, Pichai, and Dorsey in Thursday's Energy and Commerce committee session, and the different opinions at play with regards to the infamous Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act.

This week, we take a look into the thinking behind the Commission's recently published plans for their so-called 'Digital Decade' targets, and we probe perhaps the blindspots that the EU executive hasn't yet addressed in detail.

This week we take a look at the Commission’s plans for protecting the future of platform workers in the EU. You’ll hear from Commission representatives on the EU’s future objectives in this field, and we also speak to Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary at European Trade Union Confederation on the need to better protect the workers of the gig economy in Europe.

This week we take a look at what’s in store for the future of 5G in the EU, with a particular focus on recent developments in France.For a full breakdown of all of the most important stories over the past 7 days in this patch, sign up to my free newsletter or take a look at it online at Euractiv.com

This Spring, the European Central Bank will decide whether or not to move ahead with preparatory work to launch a digital euro, a project that could have far-reaching implications for the very foundations of the financial system.Central bankers were given a wake up call in 2019, following Facebook’s announcement of its intentions to develop its own digital currency, which was called ‘Libra’ and now ‘Diem’ in Summer 2019, and since then discussions have been taking place at the ECB with regards to the notion of the ECB developing its own digital currency.

A range of private media outlets went off the air in Poland on Wednesday running blank pages and slogans such as “this used to be your favourite programme,” in protest against a proposed media advertising tax they say threatens journalistic independence and diversity.The blackout came a day after many publishing groups objected to the planned tax in an open letter to authorities and political leaders.

The development of next generation robotics technologies, has been cited as an important part of the EU’s future economic growth and recovery. But there are also perilous pitfalls at play, should the bloc overlook various policy challenges, in terms of high-risk robotics, data protection, and consumer rights. This week will delve into the future of EU robotics, to give you an exclusive insight into what’s in store.

The EU is deploying drone technology to surveil its external borders. How ethical are practices such as these? This week Samuel Stolton speaks to an MEP who has taken the lead in making this an important issue for the EU to examine.

In this week’s edition, we take a deep dive into the European Union’s next moves in the Artificial Intelligence space by drawing on recent comments from political officials and catching up with policy experts in the field, as the European Commission readied new rules on AI to be presented in March.

Nations across the bloc only have until early June this year to transpose the EU’s Copyright Directive, adopted in 2019. This week, we hone in on one of the countries that played host to a groundswell of opposition to the plans: Germany.