The development of artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the world of work. Work processes, skill requirements, and issues of employee participation must be reevaluated in many sectors.

The central question here is: How should AI be integrated into the workplace so that technological innovation goes hand in hand with good working conditions and transparency?

Following the submission of the Special Panel on Child Safety Online final report to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, its recommendations are now available as a basis for further action and binding legislation. The recommendations extend beyond social media and adopt a broader approach. A central proposal is that digital services should be designed from the outset to protect minors (“Safe by Design”). The Commission President has now announced a proposal to be presented after the summer recess.

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) establishes a uniform legal framework at European level for audiovisual media services, including television broadcasts, on-demand services and video-sharing platforms. The aim is to create a free and pluralistic media environment and to protect users from illegal and harmful content. In the first half of 2026, the European Commission conducted a public consultation on the evaluation and possible revision of the AVMSD.

The European Parliament, Commission and Council jointly introduced the “One Europe, One Market” initiative at the end of April 2026 to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and safeguard prosperity, security, global influence and independence. By the end of 2027, the EU aims to deepen the Single Market, diversify trade relations and strengthen its industrial capacities. The roadmap sets out 43 measures, including controversial proposals such as the planned agreement on “EU Inc.” by 2026.

On 3 June 2026, the European Commission presented the European Technological Sovereignty Package. It comprises two legislative proposals, the Chips Act 2.0 and the Cloud and AI Development Act, as well as the EU Open Source Strategy and a Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy. The aim of the package is to increase the EU’s digital independence, expand its autonomy in key technologies and, at the same time, strengthen the Union’s competitiveness and resilience.

China is rapidly driving forward developments in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics. Within this framework, the government's development initiatives emphasize strategic planning, targeted assistance, and systematic execution.

Endless scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications are features that encourage prolonged use of social media, impacting users' well-being and health. On 5 March 2026, AK EUROPA and the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) hosted a public event to discuss addictive design and the proposed Digital Fairness Act.

AK EUROPA has joined a coalition of digital rights and consumer protection organisations – initiated by epicenter.works and European Digital Rights (EDRi) – in writing to the European Commission to raise serious concerns over the fourth batch of Implementing Acts under the eIDAS Regulation. The signatories warn that several provisions not only fail to resolve previously identified shortcomings, but risk to undermine core protections enshrined in the regulation itself.

A broad coalition of 86 consumer protection and digital rights organisations and 116 individual signatories has published a joint call urging the European Commission to develop an ambitious Digital Fairness Act (DFA).

The proposed Omnibus Package VII (Digital Omnibus) is much more than a mere simplification of existing regulations put forward by the Commission. Rather, this package proposes serious changes that threaten to lower the current level of consumer and data protection.