German agencies test open-source Microsoft 365 alternative
Germany's Federal Employment Agency and National Pension Insurance have trialled openDesk, an open-source alternative to Microsoft 365, and deemed it suitable for emergency use in critical infrastructure contexts. The trial follows efforts to reduce reliance on proprietary software for digital sovereignty. (HEISE)
Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates and news
Christian Triantafillou Schade— Digital pioneer, tech reporter, corporate revolutionary. Christian Triantafillou Schade covers Europe's push for digital sovereignty, from cloud infrastructure to AI policy, and consults independently on process improvement and tooling.
EU explores alternatives to US card payment dominance
Payment and bankingNews
The European Union examines options including the digital euro, private interoperability schemes and Brazil's PIX model to reduce reliance on US card payment networks. The initiative aims to secure payment autonomy both domestically and in cross-border transactions. (EURONEWS)
Financial sovereignty, digital euro and payment roaming: EU seeks
(#source_Euronews)By
Berlin group files criminal complaint against Meta AI glasses
GermanyNews
A Berlin-based non-profit has filed a criminal complaint against Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses, alleging they breach Germany’s privacy laws. The complaint targets Meta, Ray-Ban, Oakley and several retailers, citing covert filming risks. Germany’s regulator approved the devices in 2022, but HateAid demands stricter
(#source_Politico)By
Poland threatens to cut Starlink funding over roaming restrictions
PolandNews
Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski threatened to reconsider Warsaw’s $50 million annual spending on Starlink after SpaceX excluded Poland from a shared European roaming zone. The new restrictions, which apply to new customers from July 14 2026 and existing users from August 17 2026, will require Polish users
(#source_Politico)By
Alice & Bob joins EU quantum error correction network
News
The EU-funded QuBriC Doctoral Network adds Alice & Bob to its 16-university and seven-company consortium, training 15 doctoral researchers in quantum error correction. Backed by €4.6 million over 48 months through Horizon Europe’s MSCA programme, the initiative aims to bridge gaps between classical coding theory
(#source_Tech.eu)By
EU watchdogs urge stricter AI rules for financial sector resilience
Government and publicPayment and bankingNews
European supervisory authorities call for tighter controls on artificial intelligence in financial services to address systemic risks. The proposal aims to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty by ensuring AI systems in critical infrastructure remain secure and resilient. The initiative follows broader EU efforts to regulate AI-driven technologies across
(#source_Brussels-Times)By
Anthropic watermarks Claude output globally for EU AI Act
News
Anthropic will invisibly watermark all text and file output from its Claude AI model starting 2 August to meet EU AI Act transparency requirements. The watermarking will apply worldwide, regardless of user location, demonstrating the EU's regulatory influence on global AI governance. (EURONEWS)
EU compliance, delivered globally: Anthropic
