Tech giants such as Meta, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Google may face investigations and fines by the European Union for not adequately addressing toxic content in compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA). The EU Commission could fine companies up to 6% of their global annual revenue and even temporarily ban them. The DSA aims to hold platforms accountable for content moderation, with a focus on high-profile companies that have previously faced scrutiny for their handling of harmful content. The article details the potential impact on specific companies and their readiness for compliance, as well as the broader implications for the tech industry.

European Council President Charles Michel has indicated a growing favorability among EU leaders towards French President Emmanuel Macron's concept of 'strategic autonomy' from the United States. Michel's comments follow Macron's remarks on Europe's need to reduce dependency on the US and avoid involvement in non-European crises. Michel also defended his use of private jets and the European Council's international travel budget, emphasizing the importance of the EU's global presence in countering misinformation, such as that spread by Russian Minister Sergey Lavrov in Africa.

Europe's largest porn companies, including Pornhub, Stripchat, and Xvideos, have filed legal challenges against the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), contesting their classification as very large online platforms and the associated obligations. The European Commission had designated these websites as such, subjecting them to stricter content moderation requirements. The companies are also seeking to pause a rule mandating the creation of a public ad library. Pornhub's parent company Aylo disputes the Commission's user number calculations and emphasizes its intent to comply with the law. Xvideos and Stripchat have not commented on the matter.

Hezbollah launched a rocket attack on Israel, targeting an air surveillance base as retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut. Israel responded with a drone strike. The escalation occurs amid U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, with Secretary of State Blinken discussing reconstruction and a multi-national force with Turkey, which has criticized Israel's actions. The EU's foreign policy chief and the UN's humanitarian chief expressed concerns over the conflict's regional impact and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The European Commission has designated Pornhub, Xvideos, and Stripchat as very large online platforms, subjecting them to stringent content moderation rules under the EU's Digital Services Act by April 2024. These platforms, visited by over 45 million Europeans monthly, must crack down on illegal and harmful content or face fines up to 6 percent of global turnover. The decision follows scrutiny over the platforms' handling of illegal content and pressure to implement age verification measures. While Pornhub and Stripchat reported monthly user numbers below the threshold, Xvideos did not meet the deadline and later reported over 160 million EU users. The Commission will oversee compliance, and companies can appeal their designation.

The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), adopted in 2022, mandates 19 large online platforms and search engines to comply with new content rules aimed at curbing illegal and harmful digital content. Companies like Facebook, TikTok, and Amazon must remove illegal content, assess societal risks, and increase transparency. The European Commission can fine non-compliant companies up to 6% of annual global revenue and even temporarily ban them. The DSA also requires detailed reporting, user empowerment, targeted ad restrictions, and disclosure of operational information. Regulators and researchers will have access to company data and algorithms.

The Italian data protection authority, The Garante, has given OpenAI until April 30 to comply with privacy requirements, potentially lifting ChatGPT's temporary ban in Italy. OpenAI must verify users' ages, explain data processing, obtain consent, and allow data correction or deletion. An information campaign is required by May 14, and a detailed plan for a system to restrict access to minors under 13 is due by May 31. The temporary ban was due to alleged GDPR violations, including not verifying minors' ages. OpenAI is exploring age verification options and looks forward to making ChatGPT available in Italy again. The European Data Protection Board will discuss related issues, including a GDPR investigation into Meta.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized for the country's deadliest train disaster and announced plans to seek help from Brussels to modernize Greece's railway network. The collision in Tempe on February 28 killed at least 57 people and injured 85. Mitsotakis attributed the disaster to human error but acknowledged the need for modernization amid ongoing mass protests and criticism of the government's handling of rail safety. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a contract for upgrading the rail system, and the Greek government has formed an expert committee to investigate the crash, which has been met with opposition skepticism.

European officials, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have raised concerns about TikTok's data privacy practices and potential for spreading disinformation. Macron has called for regulation of the app, which is facing EU privacy probes and will need to comply with the EU's new digital rulebook. Germany's SPD and FDP have also suggested examining a ban on TikTok on government phones, echoing U.S. actions. The European Commission and Parliament are considering restrictions, while Ireland's privacy regulator is conducting investigations into TikTok's data transfers to China and child safety on the app.

L'article discute le plan de 200 milliards d'euros annoncé par le chancelier allemand Olaf Scholz pour plafonner les prix de l'énergie en Allemagne. Cette initiative suscite des inquiétudes parmi les autres membres de l'Union européenne qui craignent une distorsion de la concurrence. L'émission 'La faute à l'Europe ?' présentée par Yann-Antony Noghès depuis le Parlement européen à Bruxelles, aborde cette question avec des invités et chroniqueurs. Ils offrent divers points de vue sur l'actualité européenne, y compris les perspectives de la France et les analyses de Jean Quatremer, un expert reconnu de la construction européenne.

In Saint-Apollinaire, Quebec, a referendum to decide on the creation of a Muslim cemetery resulted in its rejection. The vote, which was limited to 49 residents living near the proposed site, saw 19 votes against and 16 in favor, with one spoiled ballot. The Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City had been seeking a cemetery for a decade, and the need became more pressing after a mass shooting at a Quebec City mosque. The rejection has been attributed to fear and misinformation by the mayor of Saint-Apollinaire, Bernard Ouellet. The incident has highlighted issues of intolerance and the challenges faced by the Muslim community in finding local burial grounds.