Physical borders are a thing of the past, now Europe has to tear down the digital ones. At the same time as digital services are already easing the lives of millions of EU citizens the challenges of a connected continent are becoming ever more diverse, such as cyber security, digital infrastructure and superfast internet.
Digitalization
A connected continent
Virus lockdowns give major boost to e-commerce
While large traditional retailers announce big lay-offs because of the pandemic, the coronavirus lockdowns have given e-commerce a major boost as consumers shift to shopping online
US ‘cloud’ supremacy has Europe worried about data
Europe is sitting on data that is the 21st century equivalent of a gold mine during a rush, but instead of exploiting it may be allowing US tech giants to gain control of the excavation equipment
EU to restrict exports to Hong Kong over security law
The European Union has agreed to limit exports to Hong Kong of equipment that could be used for surveillance and repression after Beijing imposed a controversial new security law
European banks team up to offer alternative to Visa, Mastercard
European banks have teamed up to deliver by 2022 a new unified payment system that will offer consumers cards and digital wallets that could offer a serious alternative to Visa and Mastercard
Italy’s 5G stumbles after a shining start
Italy's 5G project, launched to great fanfare in October 2018 with frequencies going for top dollar at auction, has since fallen victim to sky-high costs and red tape
Facial recognition: IT and police in delicate dance
Facial recognition has helped simplify our lives but the global anti-racism protests have prompted some privacy and rights groups to voice concerns over the technology is being used police forces