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Latest news on technology and digital transformation.
France's Orange network hit by phone and internet outage
French customers of Orange, and its low-cost subsidiary Sosh, reported network problems on Wednesday affecting mobile calls, text messages and internet connections.
Are the EU's new rules on AI enough to protect Europeans?
AI agents going rogue and ever-louder doomsday warnings have led many in Europe to wonder: are the EU's artificial intelligence rules enough to protect against the potential dangers?
French prosecutors probe secret filming of women with smart glasses
Paris prosecutors said Tuesday they had opened several probes after receiving complaints concerning women filmed on the street without their consent using smart glasses.
Explained: Are AI 'pervert glasses' legal in France?
The EU is considering legislation, but in the meantime what is the legal situation in France - a country with famously strict privacy laws - when it comes to the smart glasses which can be used to surreptitiously film or take photos?
'Europe has power to act': EU to ban social media for under 13s
The European Union will ban social media for children under 13 and allow only limited, supervised access until the age of 15 under plans unveiled Wednesday by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.
France submits new proposal to ban social media for under-15s
The French government submitted a reworked proposal to ban social media for children, after its previous ban was struck down by the country's top constitutional authority, President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.
Europe eyes battle over 'pervert' AI glasses
Calls are growing louder in Europe for action against "pervert" smart glasses after secretly filmed footage of girls and women appeared online -- with a petition in Britain demanding a ban on their sale.
Big tech to banking: Which companies spend the most on EU lobbying?
If there is an industry for it, there will be a lobby group representing its interests in Brussels, home to the European Union's institutions. But which companies or lobby groups splash out the most on seeking to influence EU policy?
Why you should make The Local one of your preferred sources on Google
If you like and trust The Local's coverage you can easily add us as a preferred source on Google to make sure our articles appear in your searches.
What to do if you still get unwanted cold calls in France
Unsolicited sales calls became illegal in France on Tuesday, August 11th as a law passed in June 2025 entered full effect - so here's how to report companies who are still indulging in this practice.
EU demands Meta 'protect our kids' after US settlement
The EU said Thursday it expects Meta to address "addictive" features of its platforms in Europe, after the tech giant agreed to sweeping limits on teen use of Facebook and Instagram in some US states.
'Utter bliss' - France’s new cold call ban brings peace at last
Nuisance calls that have plagued residents in France over recent years were due to come to an end as more stringent telesales rules were introduced earlier this month. Readers of The Local told us that so far, the ban, seems to be working.
Why your inbox is full of French emails about pixels
You may have received a flurry of emails recently from French companies or service providers talking about a mysterious “pixel de suivi”. This is what’s going on.
French newspapers target Google over AI summaries
A federation of nearly 300 French newspapers says it has filed a complaint with the country's competition authority over Google's new AI-generated summaries of search results, fearing the feature will erode traffic to their own websites.
EU tells Meta, TikTok to boost monitoring, fact-checking
The EU's tech chief called on Meta and TikTok to "act decisively" to stem disinformation at times of crisis, saying the European Commission held talks with both platforms Friday following last week's Ceuta migrant surge.
France brings in ban on cold calls and telemarketing
Unsolicited sales calls will become illegal in France from Tuesday, August 11th as a law passed back in June 2025 comes into full effect. But how will it protect residents and will it work?
Why Doctolib users in France are being asked about AI research
Millions of people in France who use the online medical appointment platform Doctolib may have noticed an email in July with the subject line 'Doctolib s'engage dans la recherche pour améliorer la santé' - but this apparently innocuous line is about a major AI project.
Explained: The EU's new rules on AI, deepfakes and chatbots
AI watermarking and deepfake labelling will soon be required by law in the EU as the transparency part of the bloc’s sweeping AI Act comes into force on August 2nd.
EU gets new powers over powerful AI
The European Union will from Sunday have the power to enforce landmark artificial intelligence rules and hit any companies breaking the law with fines.
EU renews online child sex abuse detection powers
The European Union on Thursday allowed online platforms to scan for child sexual abuse material in users' chats -- but with an exemption for encrypted messaging services.
European countries move to ban social media for children
Lawmakers in France are scheduled to vote on Tuesday to ban social media for under-15s -- one of 20 countries worldwide to have proposed or introduced such measures, with many of them in Europe.
Google accuses EU of undermining privacy of 'millions of Europeans'
The European Union demanded Thursday that Google share data with other search engines and open up its Android system to rival AI services, but the US giant said the measures would put privacy at risk.
'Europeans are fully awake': Why the EU is pushing for a new 'digital euro'
The European Union is moving closer to creating a digital euro as an alternative payment system for Europeans. But why are lawmakers so keen to create a virtual currency and how would it work for EU residents?