Alderik Oosthoek
@alderik.bsky.social
A running junkie in the morning, an online platforms nerd during daytime, a karaoke fanatic by night.
Disclaimer: only personal views & reposts are not endorsements
🇪🇺🇳🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪
Disclaimer: only personal views & reposts are not endorsements
🇪🇺🇳🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪
“lawmakers agreed that banks should reimburse victims if a scammer, impersonating the bank, swindles them out of their money [..] But social media companies will have to compensate banks if it’s clear that they failed to remove an online scam that had been reported.“ www.politico.eu/article/soci...
Social media giants liable for financial scams under new EU law
The new rules set a dangerous precedent, big tech companies say.
www.politico.eu
November 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
“lawmakers agreed that banks should reimburse victims if a scammer, impersonating the bank, swindles them out of their money [..] But social media companies will have to compensate banks if it’s clear that they failed to remove an online scam that had been reported.“ www.politico.eu/article/soci...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
Social media giants liable for financial scams under new EU law
Platforms including Meta and TikTok will be held liable for financial fraud for the first time under new rules agreed by EU lawmakers in the early hours of Thursday.
Platforms including Meta and TikTok will be held liable for financial fraud for the first time under new rules agreed by EU lawmakers in the early hours of Thursday.
Social media giants liable for financial scams under new EU law
Platforms including Meta and TikTok will be held liable for financial fraud for the first time under new rules agreed by EU lawmakers in the early hours of Thursday.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Social media giants liable for financial scams under new EU law
Platforms including Meta and TikTok will be held liable for financial fraud for the first time under new rules agreed by EU lawmakers in the early hours of Thursday.
Platforms including Meta and TikTok will be held liable for financial fraud for the first time under new rules agreed by EU lawmakers in the early hours of Thursday.
“In experiences rated suitable for over 13s, we found examples of users simulating lap dances, clothing branded with racial slurs, and discussions of suicide, which Roblox also says it prohibits.” www.rte.ie/news/primeti...
Senior garda warns of 'alarming' scale of child grooming in games
Amid growing concerns over child safety on Roblox, one of the most popular gaming platforms among primary school pupils, Prime Time set up test accounts and spent roughly 12 hours playing on the platform.
www.rte.ie
November 27, 2025 at 8:18 AM
“In experiences rated suitable for over 13s, we found examples of users simulating lap dances, clothing branded with racial slurs, and discussions of suicide, which Roblox also says it prohibits.” www.rte.ie/news/primeti...
“In a non-legislative report backed by lawmakers, it said the European Commission should ban engagement-based algorithms, loot boxes and addictive design features for minors, and introduce stricter age-verification tools and curbs on targeted ads and dark patterns.” www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
EU should have minimum age of 16 for social media, European Parliament says | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
MLex Summary: The EU should introduce an age limit of 16 for social media and have stronger enforcement of its digital services law, the European Parliament has said. In a non-legislative report backe...
www.mlex.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:47 AM
“In a non-legislative report backed by lawmakers, it said the European Commission should ban engagement-based algorithms, loot boxes and addictive design features for minors, and introduce stricter age-verification tools and curbs on targeted ads and dark patterns.” www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
“Today, EU member states' representatives agreed on the Council position on a regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. [..] On the basis of today's agreement, the Council can start negotiations with the European Parliament.”
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
Child sexual abuse: Council reaches position on law protecting children from online abuse - Consilium
The Council agreed its negotiating mandate on a draft law preventing and combating child sexual abuse online.
www.consilium.europa.eu
November 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
“Today, EU member states' representatives agreed on the Council position on a regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. [..] On the basis of today's agreement, the Council can start negotiations with the European Parliament.”
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
“The investigation, which accused the tech giant of using “misleading and aggressive” commercial practices to get users to link services like Maps and Search, thus violating Italian consumer protection rules, struck at conduct that is also covered by the [DMA].” www.politico.eu/article/goog...”
Google’s compliance with EU’s Big Tech rules gets Italian redesign – POLITICO
Google’s Italian settlement on consent forms highlights the quiet power member states wield in ‘gold-plating’ EU rules.
www.politico.eu
November 25, 2025 at 10:47 AM
“The investigation, which accused the tech giant of using “misleading and aggressive” commercial practices to get users to link services like Maps and Search, thus violating Italian consumer protection rules, struck at conduct that is also covered by the [DMA].” www.politico.eu/article/goog...”
“The measures suggest tech companies enforce limits on the number of responses to posts on platforms such as X, in a move that Ofcom hopes will reduce pile-ons, where individual users are deluged with abusive replies to their posts.” www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Ofcom urges social media platforms to combat abuse and limit online ‘pile-ons’ | Social media | The Guardian
New guidance from UK regulator aims to combat misogynist abuse and ‘revenge porn’
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:09 AM
“The measures suggest tech companies enforce limits on the number of responses to posts on platforms such as X, in a move that Ofcom hopes will reduce pile-ons, where individual users are deluged with abusive replies to their posts.” www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
“[P]roblematic use of social media was found to be significantly associated with worse mental health outcomes. A 1-week social media detox intervention significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety by 16.1%, depression by 24.8%, and insomnia by 14.5%.” jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Social Media Detox and Youth Mental Health | Media and Youth | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network
This cohort study evaluates the outcomes of a 1-week social media detox intervention on behavior and mental health symptoms.
jamanetwork.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
“[P]roblematic use of social media was found to be significantly associated with worse mental health outcomes. A 1-week social media detox intervention significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety by 16.1%, depression by 24.8%, and insomnia by 14.5%.” jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
"Criminals often begin the process of grooming children by joining their multiplayer video games, which have a chat function, and gaining their trust by discussing seemingly harmless topics like pets and family life. [..] Then, they will switch to a closed chat" www.politico.eu/article/chil...
Children groomed for murder through video games, Europol warns
The biggest criminal threat to European society is now children who are manipulated into violence, says Catherine De Bolle.
www.politico.eu
November 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
"Criminals often begin the process of grooming children by joining their multiplayer video games, which have a chat function, and gaining their trust by discussing seemingly harmless topics like pets and family life. [..] Then, they will switch to a closed chat" www.politico.eu/article/chil...
"Advertising based on the personality or user profiles of children should be prohibited under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, the German data protection watchdogs said [..] [this] would mean that all data controllers [..] would be subject to this rule." www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
Ban use of children’s data for online advertising, German data watchdogs say | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
The use of children’s data for online advertising should be prohibited under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, the German data protection watchdogs said in a statement published on Thursday...
www.mlex.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:06 AM
"Advertising based on the personality or user profiles of children should be prohibited under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, the German data protection watchdogs said [..] [this] would mean that all data controllers [..] would be subject to this rule." www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
“Almost immediately after the feature launched, people started noticing that many rage-bait accounts focused on US politics appeared to be based outside of the US. [..] Shortly after the feature launched, X removed information about where accounts were created.” www.theverge.com/news/827298/...
About This Account reveals the scale of X’s foreign troll problem | The Verge
X’s About This Account reveals the scale of its foreign troll problem, confirming that many MAGA accounts aren’t actually American.
www.theverge.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM
“Almost immediately after the feature launched, people started noticing that many rage-bait accounts focused on US politics appeared to be based outside of the US. [..] Shortly after the feature launched, X removed information about where accounts were created.” www.theverge.com/news/827298/...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
The EU has published a world-first risk landscape report under the #DSA.
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
November 23, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The EU has published a world-first risk landscape report under the #DSA.
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
It flags systemic risks on big platforms — from illegal content to generative AI— and tracks how platforms are addressing them.
More transparency. More accountability.
A safer online space for all.
link.europa.eu/NKM4yd
“Government documents obtained by The Irish Times detail one incident where a signal traced to Russia blocked a high-frequency radio channel. The channel is used by Irish air-traffic controllers to communicate with commercial aircraft over the Atlantic in emergency situations.”
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
“Government documents obtained by The Irish Times detail one incident where a signal traced to Russia blocked a high-frequency radio channel. The channel is used by Irish air-traffic controllers to communicate with commercial aircraft over the Atlantic in emergency situations.”
“To the company’s disappointment, “people who stopped using Facebook for a week reported lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness and social comparison,” internal documents said.” www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM
“To the company’s disappointment, “people who stopped using Facebook for a week reported lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness and social comparison,” internal documents said.” www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
“X's lawsuit questions the body's certification insofar as it relates to the application and enforcement of social media platform terms and conditions, and notes that the certification does not extend to disputes concerning illegal content.” www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
X sues Irish dispute-settlement body, questioning powers and claiming overreach | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
X has taken legal action in the Irish High Court against Appeals Centre Europe, an out-of-court dispute settlement body certified under the EU's Digital Services Act. The social-media platform is chal...
www.mlex.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
“X's lawsuit questions the body's certification insofar as it relates to the application and enforcement of social media platform terms and conditions, and notes that the certification does not extend to disputes concerning illegal content.” www.mlex.com/mlex/technol...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas today sounded the alarm for Europe after Warsaw accused Russian-backed operatives of carrying out an explosion targeting a Polish railway.
Hybrid attacks are ‘extreme danger’ for EU, says top diplomat as Putin threat grows
The EU must send a message of unity to Russia following a string of incidents, says foreign policy chief.
www.politico.eu
November 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas today sounded the alarm for Europe after Warsaw accused Russian-backed operatives of carrying out an explosion targeting a Polish railway.
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
BREAKING: The Commission’s digital omnibus on AI proposes delaying the AI Act’s high-risk rules under Annex III to Dec 2027 and Annex I to Aug 2028. But the Commission could anticipate the deadline, giving a six-month or 12-month notice, respectively.
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
Digital Omnibus on AI Regulation Proposal
The Commission is proposing targeted simplification measures to ensure timely, smooth, and proportionate implementation of certain of the AI Act’s provisions.
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
November 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM
BREAKING: The Commission’s digital omnibus on AI proposes delaying the AI Act’s high-risk rules under Annex III to Dec 2027 and Annex I to Aug 2028. But the Commission could anticipate the deadline, giving a six-month or 12-month notice, respectively.
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
#EUGeneralCourt dismisses @Amazon’s action against the @EU_Commission’s decision designating Amazon Store as a “very large online platform” #DSA 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...
Communiqués de presse - Cour de justice de l'Union européenne
Court of Justice of the European Union
curia.europa.eu
November 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
#EUGeneralCourt dismisses @Amazon’s action against the @EU_Commission’s decision designating Amazon Store as a “very large online platform” #DSA 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
It's Digital Omnibus and GDPR reform Day!
The COM proposals on the Digital Omnibus are the starting point of the legislative process and not its final result. digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
The COM proposals on the Digital Omnibus are the starting point of the legislative process and not its final result. digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
November 19, 2025 at 12:52 PM
It's Digital Omnibus and GDPR reform Day!
The COM proposals on the Digital Omnibus are the starting point of the legislative process and not its final result. digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
The COM proposals on the Digital Omnibus are the starting point of the legislative process and not its final result. digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
“TikTok is giving users the power to reduce the amount of artificial intelligence-made content on their feeds, as it revealed the platform hosts more than 1bn AI videos.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
TikTok to give users power to reduce amount of AI content on their feeds | TikTok | The Guardian
Platform reveals it hosts more than 1bn AI videos as it starts testing over next few weeks before global rollout
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 AM
“TikTok is giving users the power to reduce the amount of artificial intelligence-made content on their feeds, as it revealed the platform hosts more than 1bn AI videos.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
“The case — Federal Trade Commission v. Meta Platforms — stemmed from a novel legal argument that Meta, which was known as Facebook at the time, bought Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion to kill off its competitors.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/t...
Meta Did Not Violate Antitrust Law, Judge Rules - The New York Times
Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp did not illegally stifle competition in social networking, a judge found, a major win for the tech giant.
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
“The case — Federal Trade Commission v. Meta Platforms — stemmed from a novel legal argument that Meta, which was known as Facebook at the time, bought Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion to kill off its competitors.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/t...
“Two market investigations will assess whether Amazon and Microsoft should be designated as gatekeepers for their cloud computing services, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, under the DMA“ ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Press corner | European Commission
The European Commission opened three market investigations on cloud computing services under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
ec.europa.eu
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
“Two market investigations will assess whether Amazon and Microsoft should be designated as gatekeepers for their cloud computing services, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, under the DMA“ ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
New: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure, and Alphabet's Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study the platforms’ market power: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Tech Giants’ Cloud Power Probed as EU Weighs Inclusion in DMA
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp.’s Azure, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study…
www.bloomberg.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
New: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure, and Alphabet's Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study the platforms’ market power: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Alderik Oosthoek
"Under the investigation’s remit, regulators will asses whether the top cloud operators — regardless of the challenge of counting user numbers — should be forced to contend with a raft of fresh obligations" #qualitative_DMA_designations www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU Considers Cracking Down on Big Tech's Cloud Power
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp.’s Azure, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study t...
www.bloomberg.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"Under the investigation’s remit, regulators will asses whether the top cloud operators — regardless of the challenge of counting user numbers — should be forced to contend with a raft of fresh obligations" #qualitative_DMA_designations www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
"The Commission published an evaluation report of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Monday [..] the Commission has previously said the review will provide “useful input” for its upcoming digital fitness check." www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Commission eyes further simplification of tech rules after DSA review | Euractiv
The Commission's report on the Digital Services Act points to further simplification of EU tech rules in the upcoming 'digital fitness check'
www.euractiv.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
"The Commission published an evaluation report of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Monday [..] the Commission has previously said the review will provide “useful input” for its upcoming digital fitness check." www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...