EU’s draft free-speech law ‘too weak’, say lawyers and journalists
The European Union's proposed free-speech legislation is "too weak" and does not reflect legal reality, lawyers and media professionals have told Brussels Signal.
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Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
EU aims to force Big Tech and others to make their products repairable
The European Union is to target so-called "planned obsolescence" in products amid the bloc's ongoing technology regulation efforts.
Meta hit with European consumer group complaint over users’ DSA access move
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta has been hit with a formal complaint over its attempts to charge European users to access the European Union’s Digital Services…
Berlin’s spätis show how things tend to go right when Europe keeps it simple
Can the EU political establishment learn something from the späti, the late-night convenience store that is ubiquitous in the German capital?
Putin threatens to end ‘happiness in Latvia’ over its new Russians’ residency law
Russian President Vladimir Putin is threatening Latvia with "unhappiness" after it brought in legislation the Kremlin sees as targeting Latvia’s Russian population.
Musk’s X says Irish minister McEntee’s ‘no-censorship’ claims are ‘inaccurate’
US tech billionaire Elon Musk's X social media platform has accused Ireland's justice minister Helen McEntee of making "inaccurate" statements in the Irish Parliament…
Not only minorities are victims: Violence is violence, even if those attacked are Right-wing and white
In a surge of violent attacks, conservative and far-Right politicians are being targeted by extremists all around Europe. The trend is becoming worrying.
Leftist leader like an ‘annoying uncle who talks nonsense’, says Macron spokesman
The chief spokesman for French President Emmanuel Macron's Government has mocked one of the country's most high-profile left-wing leaders, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, comparing…
Belgian terror expert: ‘Brussels not safe’ to celebrate Christmas and New Year in
According to Pieter Van Ostaeyen, a Belgian terrorism expert, the European capital will not be a safe place to celebrate the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s…
Sunak pledges to push through UK’s Rwanda migrant relocation plan irrespective of opinion of ‘foreign’ judges
The British Prime Minister is pushing to make the Government’s Rwanda plan for immigrant relocations legally binding irrespective of the opinion of judges in the…
Can the Left keep taking the Muslim vote for granted? There are early signs that Keir Starmer’s Labour is losing its grip
What does the Israel-Hamas war mean for the European Left?
EU to unlock part, but not all, of frozen Hungary funds
Hungary is on track with its judicial reforms and can therefore expect some of its frozen funds to be released, European Commission officials said on November 30.
Is it time to give the populists a chance? From mass migration to green deals, the mainstream parties are beginning to look like the bigger threat to Europe
A few highlights from all over Europe over the last few days: The new Spanish government is colluding with a movement that openly calls for the dissolution of the…
‘Attempted assassination’ of Vox founder ‘planned months in advance’, police say
The attempted assassination of the Conservative Vox party founder Alejandro Vidal-Quadras was planned three months in advance, according to Spanish police.
EC wants fast refunds and clearer information for stranded travellers
The European Commission is advocating for travellers to have access to clearer information and swift reimbursement in the event of trip cancellations.
Lithuania’s Government may collapse over key budget vote
Lithuania's Government is at risk of collapse as Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė's unruly coalition looks increasingly fractious ahead of a crucial December 5…
Balkans now feeling fallout of Israel-Hamas war
The fall-out from the Israel-Hamas war is starting to be felt in the Balkans, where greater numbers of Palestinian refugees are arriving.
Nordic countries agree to joint return flights for failed asylum seekers
Nordic Governments agreed at a Copenhagen summit to co-operate more on returning migrants to their countries of origin, especially rejected asylum seekers.
Belarus police raid premises of opposition activists and their families
Police in Belarus have raided the offices of opposition members as part of a crackdown on dissenters who revolted against the Government in 2020.
Euro MPs want regulation of music streaming to ‘protect diversity’
MEPs sitting on the Committee on Culture and Education bemoaned the lack of bureaucratic influence in the sector, voting in favour of demanding EU action by 23 votes…
Belgium buries terrorist murderer ‘under false name’ to deter ‘sympathisers’ from rallying there
The terrorist who killed two Swedes in Brussels in October has been buried under an unrevealed false name to prevent his resting place from becoming a rallying point…
The Left’s Goliath is beating the Right’s David where it really matters
“If voting could change anything they'd abolish it,” was once a catchy quip used by cynics to justify their apathy and non-participation in elections.
Niger junta reneges on EU migration deal, reopening Mediterranean floodgate
The junta in Niger has repealed anti-migration legislation designed to limit the mass influx of West African arrivals to Europe
European Court of Justice approves banning of religious symbols at work
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in favour of the Belgian Government banning religious symbols in the workplace in an apparent effort to create a “neutral…
Swedish Left does U-turn on mass migration
Sweden has quickly shifted from being one of Europe's most ethnically homogenous nations to one of its most diverse, which has resulted in negative societal consequences,…
Ruling reality is not enough! MEPs demand EU regulation of ‘virtual worlds’
Seemingly unhappy with just ruling Europe, MEPs have demanded that the European Union starts regulating "virtual worlds", such as Facebook's metaverse and Star Trek-style…
Has the EU project just imploded in Dublin?
The failures of the EU project took on a tragically tangible form in Dublin with a knife attack that injured three children and a woman, precipitating some of the…
Meta Platforms’ paid ad-free service targeted in Austrian privacy complaint
Meta Platforms' paid no-ads subscription service launched in Europe this month faced one of its biggest tests as advocacy group NOYB on Tuesday filed a complaint…
Six teens in court in connection with beheading of French teacher
Six teenagers were due to go on trial behind closed doors on November 27 in connection with the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, a murder…
Polish news report about ‘child’s disappearance’ on Belarus border was fake, journalist admits
A story about a four-year-old child named “Eileen” who was purportedly lost and feared dead after crossing the Polish-Belarusian border in 2021 has been exposed…