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The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that TikTok's For You algorithm creates a 'rabbit hole effect,' repeatedly pushing users toward content tied to sadness, isolation and body image, in violation of the Digital Services Act. Officials say TikTok's existing safeguards against this effect are not working. The company must redesign the feed or face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.
The European Commission issued preliminary findings accusing TikTok of breaching the DSA because its For You recommendation system can trap users in 'rabbit holes' of repetitive content tied to sadness, isolation or body image. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess or mitigate these risks, noting that the 'not interested' button may not meaningfully change a user's feed. TikTok disputed the findings as inaccurate, while the case stems from a broader ongoing EU investigation into the platform.
Members of the European Commission's Group of Chief Scientific Advisors say governments worldwide are restricting academic freedom, interfering with research funding decisions and, in some cases, targeting scientists politically. They argue science and democracy are deeply linked, outlining three ways research supports democratic systems: establishing shared factual baselines, building trust in institutions, and providing tools to adapt policy to changing circumstances. The advisers note EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva asked them in May for guidance on how science can bolster the bloc's democratic resilience.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that Canada will become an active participant in the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, the EU's public-private network of supercomputers, quantum computers and AI facilities. Von der Leyen said Canadian firms, startups and researchers will gain access to European supercomputing resources, while the EU can draw on Canada's tech sector. EuroHPC currently comprises 14 supercomputers, 10 quantum computers and 19 AI factories across 38 countries, backed by an €8.2 billion budget plus a planned €30 billion expansion.
The European Commission will launch an expanded version of its Open Research Europe platform by early November, adding funders from 11 countries including Germany's DFG and the Swiss National Science Foundation, plus research organizations such as France's CNRS. The platform, which publishes preprints alongside open peer reviews before flagging them as reviewed, will now offer free editorial services to more than 2.5 million researchers and has published around 1,500 articles since its 2021 launch.
CCIA Europe, a lobby group whose members include Amazon, Google and Meta, released a commissioned study estimating the EU's proposed Cloud and AI Development Act could cost 115 billion euros ($128 billion) over ten years, far above the European Commission's own projections. Most of that figure stems from a scenario in which sovereignty rules are applied to a quarter of cloud workloads across essential private-sector industries, with code rewriting cited as the largest cost driver.
The European Commission is reportedly revising its digital tax proposal so that it applies to all large corporations with revenue above €100 million, rather than singling out digital services providers like Apple, Google and Meta. According to the Financial Times, officials hope this broader approach will raise similar tax revenue while avoiding the appearance of targeting US tech firms specifically. The exact levy amount has not been set, with the EU first seeking agreement among its 27 member states on the broader principle.
The European Commission rolled out a European-built video conferencing tool meant to serve as a sovereign alternative to Microsoft Teams, reducing reliance on US software. According to a report, internal staff reactions have been harshly negative, with one employee reportedly calling the tool 'absolute sh*t'.
The European Commission has deployed Element Pro, a self-hosted messaging tool from UK firm Element, as a sovereign alternative to Microsoft Teams. Politico reported that internal staff messages described the software harshly, with officials calling it confusing and of little value, and one saying the U.S. would win instantly if it cut off its tech given how Teams compares. Element CEO Matthew Hodgson acknowledged early 'teething issues' and said switching tools always causes friction.
A Financial Times analysis found Apple held 257 meetings with EU policymakers since June 2024, ranking second among tech firms behind Google's 302. Apple spends roughly €8-9 million annually on Brussels lobbying, more than Total, Volkswagen and Airbus combined, while Amazon ranked 14th with 239 meetings and Meta spent over €10 million yearly.
The US Department of Justice filed to intervene in X's and Elon Musk's appeal against a €120 million fine the European Commission imposed last December for violating the Digital Services Act. Assistant attorney general Brett Shumate said the Commission had overstepped its authority in targeting an American company, and the case will be heard at the EU's General Court in Luxembourg.
The US Department of Justice has applied to the EU's General Court to intervene in Elon Musk's and X's legal challenge against a €120m EU fine issued in December 2025 over the platform's blue tick verification badges. The DOJ argues the European Commission overstepped its jurisdiction in applying the fine to an American company. The European Commission responded that it has a strong case based on X's alleged breach of the Digital Services Act.