News
Court rulings, new laws and regulator actions across the EU – AI Act, GDPR, MiCA, DORA. Every item linked up to its reference guide.
ESMA wants MiCA to reach crypto influencers, scam sites and DeFi
On 30 September 2026 ESMA told the Commission what it would change in MiCA: rules for influencers, powers against scam sites, clear lines on DeFi.
Google fined €403 million over location data
Ireland's regulator fined Google €403 million on 21 September 2026 over location data in three settings – but it may be years before any of it is paid.
EU KIDS Act: no social media before 13, your own account at 15, and the platform has to prove it is safe
On 17 September 2026 the European Commission adopted its proposal for the KIDS Act: one minimum age across the EU for opening a social media account, a named list of design tricks that would become illegal, rules written specifically for AI companions, and an audited compliance plan the largest platforms must file first.
Uber fined €824,990,000 for deactivating drivers by algorithm
The Dutch data protection authority fined Uber almost €825 million on 21 August 2026 for cutting off drivers' accounts with no human involved – the second-largest GDPR fine ever, and the largest yet built on Article 22, the rule against decisions made purely by machine.
François-Louis Michaud takes over as EBA Chair
François-Louis Michaud became Chair of the European Banking Authority on 16 April 2026, succeeding José Manuel Campa. The EBA supervises significant stablecoin issuers under MiCA and is one of the three ESAs under DORA.
Germany's AI Act law (KI-MIG) is in force
Germany's AI Act implementation law entered into force on 29 July 2026, a year after the EU deadline it missed. It makes the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) the default market-surveillance authority for AI, with a coordination centre (KoKIVO) inside it, and does not designate the federal data-protection authority as a market-surveillance authority.
Rome court annuls the Garante's €15M GDPR fine against OpenAI
Italy's Tribunale di Roma has overturned, in full, the €15 million fine the Garante announced against OpenAI over ChatGPT in December 2024 – because the Irish regulator, not the Garante, was competent.