Locked for years in digital alienation, the EU has set a new standard on data protection and privacy, wrestling back some control from Silicon Valley. But with the coming of age of AI-based applications, Chinese firms strive in turn for a piece of the colony. 

Many European cities did not wait for central governments’ green light to take advantage of the opportunities provided by technology and big data to improve governance and their citizens’ lives. A closer look at Utrecht and Santander shows how smart cities can play a role model.

Martin Brynskov, chairman of the board of Open and Agile Smart Cities (OASC), explains how data management fuels local governance solutions and citizen-centric services.

European data protection authorities are conducting profoundly different recruitment policies to enforce the EU's upcoming new privacy rules.

Mark Zuckerberg had nothing new to say, while MEPs seemed determined to introduce new regulations. Those interested in the future of social media may do well to tune their antennas to Brussels rather than to Facebook headquarters.

The European Union's fund for free wireless internet connection hotspots is most popular in Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria, Italy, Malta, Slovenia and Croatia. Check if your municipality pre-registered.

The short-term property-rental platforms have seen the potential for influence over those EU bodies which are supposed to regulate them, and are now putting resources into it.