Ireland is preparing to use its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union to advance proposals for identity-verified social media accounts, framing the initiative as a response to online abuse, disinformation, and risks to democratic debate.
As EU lawmakers prepare the Digital Fairness Act, features such as loot boxes and 'persuasive' game design are drawing heightened scrutiny over risks to children, consumer rights, and digital well-being.
Egypt has issued executive regulations bringing its 2020 personal data protection law into force. The new framework sets out concrete obligations for organisations, including registration, cross-border transfer controls, and breach notification requirements.
European leaders have criticised US visa bans imposed on five Europeans involved in countering online hate and disinformation, warning that the move escalates tensions over the EU’s digital rules and raises broader questions about transatlantic relations.
At its final meeting of 2025, the ICANN Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Council approved the next steps for policy work on DNS abuse mitigation, agreed on a phased approach to controversial issues, and formally acknowledged findings from the Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) Standing Committee. The discussions highlighted ongoing tensions between abuse mitigation, registrant rights, and the pace and scope of policy development.
A new fake news law adopted by South Korea’s National Assembly has triggered criticism from journalists, unions, and academics, who warn that the legislation could increase censorship pressures and undermine independent reporting rather than restore trust in the media.
The European Commission has welcomed new interoperability features in Apple’s iOS 26.3, describing them as evidence of the Digital Markets Act’s impact on opening closed ecosystems. The changes aim to improve access for third-party devices across the EU.
Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has approved its Priority Themes Map for 2026–2027, outlining where supervisory and enforcement efforts will focus over the next two years. The document highlights children’s data protection, targeted advertising, public-sector data sharing, and artificial intelligence as key areas of regulatory attention.
ICANN’s Office of the Ombuds has launched a public consultation on a revised framework and process that defines how the Ombuds handles complaints, disputes, and requests for reconsideration. The update aims to reflect the evolution of the role and align it with current good-practice standards.
The Council of Europe has created a new intergovernmental body, the Steering Committee for New and Emerging Digital Technologies, to coordinate work on digital technologies and oversee implementation of key AI governance instruments from 2026.
Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) is a project co-funded by the European Union.
