Mathieu Pollet
@mathieupollet.bsky.social
Europe’s digital ambitions keep running up against a familiar rift: how far should the continent go in detoxing from U.S. tech?
Leaders pick up that discussion today in Brussels at #EUCO — and it’s one that will follow France and Germany to their joint tech summit in Berlin next month.
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Leaders pick up that discussion today in Brussels at #EUCO — and it’s one that will follow France and Germany to their joint tech summit in Berlin next month.
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EU leaders paper over splits on US tech reliance
France and Germany are not yet on the same page to detox from Big Tech.
www.politico.eu
October 23, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Europe’s digital ambitions keep running up against a familiar rift: how far should the continent go in detoxing from U.S. tech?
Leaders pick up that discussion today in Brussels at #EUCO — and it’s one that will follow France and Germany to their joint tech summit in Berlin next month.
👇
Leaders pick up that discussion today in Brussels at #EUCO — and it’s one that will follow France and Germany to their joint tech summit in Berlin next month.
👇
"If we need to go a step further to protect our kids, then why not?" a spokesperson for the EU executive said, following up on Ursula von der Leyen's backing of a "digital majority age."
👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
EU Commission to ‘leave doors open’ for social media ban
‘If we need to go a step further to protect our kids, then why not?’ says Commission spokesperson.
www.politico.eu
September 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
"If we need to go a step further to protect our kids, then why not?" a spokesperson for the EU executive said, following up on Ursula von der Leyen's backing of a "digital majority age."
👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
Hybrid warfare isn’t new for Europe’s frontlines.
But Lithuania’s ambassador to the EU, Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, warns that Russia is dialing up GPS interference from the Kaliningrad enclave.
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But Lithuania’s ambassador to the EU, Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, warns that Russia is dialing up GPS interference from the Kaliningrad enclave.
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GPS jamming threat is real, Lithuania warns EU
Countries bordering Russia have faced hybrid warfare, including GPS disruptions, for years, Vilnius says.
www.politico.eu
September 8, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Hybrid warfare isn’t new for Europe’s frontlines.
But Lithuania’s ambassador to the EU, Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, warns that Russia is dialing up GPS interference from the Kaliningrad enclave.
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But Lithuania’s ambassador to the EU, Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, warns that Russia is dialing up GPS interference from the Kaliningrad enclave.
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The European Media Freedom Act kicks in today.
But undoing years of political capture and erosion of media independence will require the EU to do more than legislate. It will need to stand up to its most authoritarian, illiberal, or populist members — and against the foot-draggers.
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But undoing years of political capture and erosion of media independence will require the EU to do more than legislate. It will need to stand up to its most authoritarian, illiberal, or populist members — and against the foot-draggers.
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Europe’s new media freedom law has kicked in. Will it make any difference?
Media experts fear the law may be ignored as illiberal and populist parties erode media independence.
www.politico.eu
August 8, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The European Media Freedom Act kicks in today.
But undoing years of political capture and erosion of media independence will require the EU to do more than legislate. It will need to stand up to its most authoritarian, illiberal, or populist members — and against the foot-draggers.
👇
But undoing years of political capture and erosion of media independence will require the EU to do more than legislate. It will need to stand up to its most authoritarian, illiberal, or populist members — and against the foot-draggers.
👇
We’ve all been there: Calls dropping, video streaming crashing, browsers timing out, signal bars taunting you. 🛜 📶
If you’ve taken a train in Europe, you know the pain of unreliable Wi-Fi (or 5G, for that matter).
This piece won't fix your next journey, but now, at least, you'll know why.
If you’ve taken a train in Europe, you know the pain of unreliable Wi-Fi (or 5G, for that matter).
This piece won't fix your next journey, but now, at least, you'll know why.
Why Europe’s train Wi-Fi never works
Railway internet sucks — and despite some bright plans, even getting decent 5G will remain hit and miss for a while.
www.politico.eu
August 4, 2025 at 7:54 AM
We’ve all been there: Calls dropping, video streaming crashing, browsers timing out, signal bars taunting you. 🛜 📶
If you’ve taken a train in Europe, you know the pain of unreliable Wi-Fi (or 5G, for that matter).
This piece won't fix your next journey, but now, at least, you'll know why.
If you’ve taken a train in Europe, you know the pain of unreliable Wi-Fi (or 5G, for that matter).
This piece won't fix your next journey, but now, at least, you'll know why.
As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced, and survived, a vote of confidence, Russian propaganda engines went into overdrive.
That's according to a confidential report that breaks down the “narrative amplification machine” engineered by the so-called Pravda network.
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That's according to a confidential report that breaks down the “narrative amplification machine” engineered by the so-called Pravda network.
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How von der Leyen’s no-confidence vote fueled Russian propaganda
A confidential study found that a known Russian disinformation network had ramped up its posts by 60 percent while pushing the narrative that the European Commission president was “toxic.R…
www.politico.eu
July 22, 2025 at 4:56 AM
As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced, and survived, a vote of confidence, Russian propaganda engines went into overdrive.
That's according to a confidential report that breaks down the “narrative amplification machine” engineered by the so-called Pravda network.
👇
That's according to a confidential report that breaks down the “narrative amplification machine” engineered by the so-called Pravda network.
👇
The European Parliament is considering revoking lobbying access for every interest group tied to Amazon.
But the jury is still out after Tuesday's meeting of top lawmakers from the employment committee, who have had a bone to pick with Amazon lobbyists over what they see as repeated snubs.
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But the jury is still out after Tuesday's meeting of top lawmakers from the employment committee, who have had a bone to pick with Amazon lobbyists over what they see as repeated snubs.
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EU Parliament threatens wider ban on lobbyists as Amazon spat deepens
All tech lobbies associated with the e-commerce giant — including DigitalEurope, CCIA Europe and ITI — could be barred from Parliament in major escalation of fight over warehouse working conditions…
www.politico.eu
July 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The European Parliament is considering revoking lobbying access for every interest group tied to Amazon.
But the jury is still out after Tuesday's meeting of top lawmakers from the employment committee, who have had a bone to pick with Amazon lobbyists over what they see as repeated snubs.
👇
But the jury is still out after Tuesday's meeting of top lawmakers from the employment committee, who have had a bone to pick with Amazon lobbyists over what they see as repeated snubs.
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What if Trump could flip the switch and plunge Europe into the (digital) dark?
(Proud of this piece — and there’s a pretty cool animation to go with it.)
👇 ☁️ www.politico.eu/article/dona...
(Proud of this piece — and there’s a pretty cool animation to go with it.)
👇 ☁️ www.politico.eu/article/dona...
Trump can pull the plug on the internet, and Europe can’t do anything about it
Trump is back — and with him, the risk that the U.S. could unplug Europe from the digital world.
www.politico.eu
June 23, 2025 at 7:22 AM
What if Trump could flip the switch and plunge Europe into the (digital) dark?
(Proud of this piece — and there’s a pretty cool animation to go with it.)
👇 ☁️ www.politico.eu/article/dona...
(Proud of this piece — and there’s a pretty cool animation to go with it.)
👇 ☁️ www.politico.eu/article/dona...
Reposted by Mathieu Pollet
...he says to Signal's president
June 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
...he says to Signal's president
Reposted by Mathieu Pollet
BREAK - The European Commission has opened the door for delaying some of its flagship AI rules if guidance or standards for companies aren’t ready in time.
By @mathieupollet.bsky.social & me
pro.politico.eu/news/199865
By @mathieupollet.bsky.social & me
pro.politico.eu/news/199865
POLITICO Pro
pro.politico.eu
June 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
BREAK - The European Commission has opened the door for delaying some of its flagship AI rules if guidance or standards for companies aren’t ready in time.
By @mathieupollet.bsky.social & me
pro.politico.eu/news/199865
By @mathieupollet.bsky.social & me
pro.politico.eu/news/199865
Reposted by Mathieu Pollet
Hungary is violating European Union law by cracking down on LGBTQ+ content children might be exposed to, a top adviser at the EU's highest court said today.
Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ rules breach EU law, top court adviser says
Legal opinion bolsters EU’s challenge against Viktor Orbán’s conservative culture war.
ow.ly
June 5, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Hungary is violating European Union law by cracking down on LGBTQ+ content children might be exposed to, a top adviser at the EU's highest court said today.
Reposted by Mathieu Pollet
ANALYSIS: The EU is set to deliver a sobering message to a growing movement in Europe calling for a detox from U.S. Big Tech.
The message? That ain’t happening anytime soon.
W/ @mathieupollet.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
The message? That ain’t happening anytime soon.
W/ @mathieupollet.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Europe’s dream to wean off US tech gets reality check
As the Trump administration plays hardball, a new EU strategy puts collaboration front and center.
www.politico.eu
June 5, 2025 at 7:16 AM
ANALYSIS: The EU is set to deliver a sobering message to a growing movement in Europe calling for a detox from U.S. Big Tech.
The message? That ain’t happening anytime soon.
W/ @mathieupollet.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
The message? That ain’t happening anytime soon.
W/ @mathieupollet.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Reposted by Mathieu Pollet
Ooooow snap —
Key European lawmaker Eva Maydell rebukes the EU's plan to become more technologically sovereign, arguing that "some trains have left the station" and that it's time to "sober up."
Follow this and more at @politico.eu's AI & Tech Summit.
www.politico.eu/article/its-...
Key European lawmaker Eva Maydell rebukes the EU's plan to become more technologically sovereign, arguing that "some trains have left the station" and that it's time to "sober up."
Follow this and more at @politico.eu's AI & Tech Summit.
www.politico.eu/article/its-...
‘Time to sober up’: Europe should be realistic on tech sovereignty, lawmaker says
The EU should “identify the few big ideas that can propel our economic and industrial base,” says Bulgaria’s Eva Maydell.
www.politico.eu
May 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Ooooow snap —
Key European lawmaker Eva Maydell rebukes the EU's plan to become more technologically sovereign, arguing that "some trains have left the station" and that it's time to "sober up."
Follow this and more at @politico.eu's AI & Tech Summit.
www.politico.eu/article/its-...
Key European lawmaker Eva Maydell rebukes the EU's plan to become more technologically sovereign, arguing that "some trains have left the station" and that it's time to "sober up."
Follow this and more at @politico.eu's AI & Tech Summit.
www.politico.eu/article/its-...
Donald Trump's "America First" hits the big screen.
The U.S. president pledged Sunday to slap a 100 percent "tariff" on movies "produced in Foreign Lands," after governments worldwide have enticed production teams with lucrative tax breaks and lower labor costs.
The U.S. president pledged Sunday to slap a 100 percent "tariff" on movies "produced in Foreign Lands," after governments worldwide have enticed production teams with lucrative tax breaks and lower labor costs.
Trump’s movie tariff threat puzzles Europe
As U.S. productions flock overseas, Trump wants to target foreign moviemakers, opening a new front in the transatlantic trade war.
www.politico.eu
May 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Donald Trump's "America First" hits the big screen.
The U.S. president pledged Sunday to slap a 100 percent "tariff" on movies "produced in Foreign Lands," after governments worldwide have enticed production teams with lucrative tax breaks and lower labor costs.
The U.S. president pledged Sunday to slap a 100 percent "tariff" on movies "produced in Foreign Lands," after governments worldwide have enticed production teams with lucrative tax breaks and lower labor costs.
Just in: Huawei "terminated the employment of two individuals" and suspended a third for their alleged involvement in the bribery investigation surrounding the Chinese technology giant and the European Parliament.
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Huawei fires two staffers in response to corruption scandal
Chinese tech giant is at the center of Belgian investigation into wrongdoing.
www.politico.eu
April 7, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Just in: Huawei "terminated the employment of two individuals" and suspended a third for their alleged involvement in the bribery investigation surrounding the Chinese technology giant and the European Parliament.
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The EU holds a Big Tech-shaped card in the trade war deck — but it can't decide how and when to play it.
With @pieterhaeck.bsky.social and @egreechee.bsky.social. 👇
With @pieterhaeck.bsky.social and @egreechee.bsky.social. 👇
Brussels could hit Big Tech in trade spat. But how?
Digital services could be Washington’s Achilles heel but European officials are conflicted over how to strike it.
www.politico.eu
April 7, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The EU holds a Big Tech-shaped card in the trade war deck — but it can't decide how and when to play it.
With @pieterhaeck.bsky.social and @egreechee.bsky.social. 👇
With @pieterhaeck.bsky.social and @egreechee.bsky.social. 👇
Elon Musk says Ukraine’s front line would collapse without Starlink. The EU wants to prove him wrong — but can’t. Yet.
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Ukraine is stuck with Musk’s Starlink for now
Key competitor Eutelsat won’t break Starlink’s grip on Kyiv’s wartime communications overnight.
www.politico.eu
April 7, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Elon Musk says Ukraine’s front line would collapse without Starlink. The EU wants to prove him wrong — but can’t. Yet.
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👇
Reposted by Mathieu Pollet
Three Huawei employees and a Forum Europe boss were in court this week for hearings related to the corruption investigation into the Chinese tech giant's EU lobbying.
Huawei, Forum Europe staff face Belgian court hearings over corruption charges
Three Huawei employees and a managing director from Brussels conference organizer Forum Europe appeared in court.
www.politico.eu
April 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Three Huawei employees and a Forum Europe boss were in court this week for hearings related to the corruption investigation into the Chinese tech giant's EU lobbying.
Huawei corruption scandal: The heat is on over a 2021 Huawei-friendly letter.
Who’s caught in the storm? Who’s facing charges? How much money changed hands?
We bring you the latest on the #Huaweigate with @elisabraun.bsky.social, @maxgriera.bsky.social and @benmunster.bsky.social. 👇
Who’s caught in the storm? Who’s facing charges? How much money changed hands?
We bring you the latest on the #Huaweigate with @elisabraun.bsky.social, @maxgriera.bsky.social and @benmunster.bsky.social. 👇
Belgian prosecutors probe whether Huawei paid for letter signed by 8 MEPs
Authorities are looking into whether the Chinese tech giant made illegal payments for a letter defending its interests in 2021.
www.politico.eu
March 26, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Huawei corruption scandal: The heat is on over a 2021 Huawei-friendly letter.
Who’s caught in the storm? Who’s facing charges? How much money changed hands?
We bring you the latest on the #Huaweigate with @elisabraun.bsky.social, @maxgriera.bsky.social and @benmunster.bsky.social. 👇
Who’s caught in the storm? Who’s facing charges? How much money changed hands?
We bring you the latest on the #Huaweigate with @elisabraun.bsky.social, @maxgriera.bsky.social and @benmunster.bsky.social. 👇
Reposted by Mathieu Pollet
Lawmakers are demanding Roberta Metsola “set aside” any peers suspected of involvement in the Huawei bribery scandal, according to a letter signed by 28 members of the European Parliament and seen by POLITICO.
Pressure mounts on Metsola to sideline lawmakers linked to Huawei bribery probe
MEPs are demanding the Parliament president strengthen internal reporting mechanisms.
www.politico.eu
March 19, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Lawmakers are demanding Roberta Metsola “set aside” any peers suspected of involvement in the Huawei bribery scandal, according to a letter signed by 28 members of the European Parliament and seen by POLITICO.
Don’t let your smartphone fool you. 📶
Like most Europeans, chances are you don't actually have the full-fledged 5G.
While that’s fine for everyday users, the real game-changer — 5G standalone — remains largely a promise, not a reality, for the European industry. 👇
Like most Europeans, chances are you don't actually have the full-fledged 5G.
While that’s fine for everyday users, the real game-changer — 5G standalone — remains largely a promise, not a reality, for the European industry. 👇
Europeans are missing out on 5G, data shows
Slow rollout of full-fledged 5G is holding Europe back while China and the U.S. race ahead.
www.politico.eu
March 17, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Don’t let your smartphone fool you. 📶
Like most Europeans, chances are you don't actually have the full-fledged 5G.
While that’s fine for everyday users, the real game-changer — 5G standalone — remains largely a promise, not a reality, for the European industry. 👇
Like most Europeans, chances are you don't actually have the full-fledged 5G.
While that’s fine for everyday users, the real game-changer — 5G standalone — remains largely a promise, not a reality, for the European industry. 👇
A new bribery case involving the Chinese tech giant Huawei — a former lobbying powerhouse — is rocking the European Parliament, echoing the 2022 Qatargate scandal.
Everything we know about the sprawling corruption probe so far. 👇
Everything we know about the sprawling corruption probe so far. 👇
Huawei bribery scandal: What we know so far
China’s 5G darling and the European Parliament are caught in a sprawling corruption probe in Belgium.
www.politico.eu
March 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
A new bribery case involving the Chinese tech giant Huawei — a former lobbying powerhouse — is rocking the European Parliament, echoing the 2022 Qatargate scandal.
Everything we know about the sprawling corruption probe so far. 👇
Everything we know about the sprawling corruption probe so far. 👇
Just back from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where I sat down with Telefónica’s new boss, Marc Murtra.
His message? Europe’s Big Telcos could take on U.S. Big Tech — if the EU lets them.
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His message? Europe’s Big Telcos could take on U.S. Big Tech — if the EU lets them.
👇
POLITICO Pro
pro.politico.eu
March 6, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Just back from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where I sat down with Telefónica’s new boss, Marc Murtra.
His message? Europe’s Big Telcos could take on U.S. Big Tech — if the EU lets them.
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His message? Europe’s Big Telcos could take on U.S. Big Tech — if the EU lets them.
👇
At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Brendan Carr doubled down on the warning shot from the U.S. against EU tech laws, with the Digital Services Act’s "censorship" as his prime target.
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US official slams EU’s social media ‘censorship’
Federal Communications Commission chair warns that the EU’s Digital Services Act threatens censorship that is “incompatible” with U.S. free speech.
www.politico.eu
March 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Brendan Carr doubled down on the warning shot from the U.S. against EU tech laws, with the Digital Services Act’s "censorship" as his prime target.
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The battle over the EU’s standard essential patents bill keeps raging on.
National governments are still very divided on whether to axe the proposal.
Meanwhile, a new cross-party group of lawmakers urged the European Commission to "stay firm in its decision" in a new letter. 👇
National governments are still very divided on whether to axe the proposal.
Meanwhile, a new cross-party group of lawmakers urged the European Commission to "stay firm in its decision" in a new letter. 👇
POLITICO Pro
pro.politico.eu
February 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The battle over the EU’s standard essential patents bill keeps raging on.
National governments are still very divided on whether to axe the proposal.
Meanwhile, a new cross-party group of lawmakers urged the European Commission to "stay firm in its decision" in a new letter. 👇
National governments are still very divided on whether to axe the proposal.
Meanwhile, a new cross-party group of lawmakers urged the European Commission to "stay firm in its decision" in a new letter. 👇