Platforms • Table.Briefings

April 16th, 2026

Age verification: EU Commission presents blueprint

Ursula von der Leyen is calling on member states to use the EU’s age verification app to ensure a uniform solution. The app is designed to be particularly privacy-friendly.

By Corinna Visser

Feature | Working conditions

March 30th, 2026

Working hours: Why the chancellor is falling for Beijing’s narrative

Friedrich Merz has praised China’s work ethic. But the long hours worked by Chinese employees have nothing to do with patriotism. In reality, millions of them are trapped in precarious jobs.

By Marcel Grzanna

News | Digital Services Act

March 27th, 2026

DSA: Commission criticizes lack of age verification on Snapchat and pornography platforms

The European Commission has launched an investigation into Snapchat and has criticized adult content platforms for failing to implement adequate measures to protect minors. The Commission argues that simple age verification procedures are not sufficient to protect minors from inappropriate content.

By Corinna Visser

Interior view image through the glass of the Pick and Smile parcel locker shop showing numerous wrapped parcels and cardboard boxes stored for customer pickup at Les Quatre Temps shopping center in Puteaux in France on December 23, 2025. The window displays multiple delivery company logos emphasizing the growth of parcel services linked to online shopping.

News | Digital Services Act

March 6th, 2026

Trusted Flagger: Platforms show significant shortcomings according to VZBV

In 2025, in its role as Trusted Flagger under the DSA, the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) reported 60 suspected illegal content items. Many platforms were slow to respond, rejected the reports, or did not provide any feedback. The association is calling for clear standards and stronger oversight.

By Corinna Visser

News | E-Commerce

February 26th, 2026

DHL: More European customers with Chinese help

German brands are to be given easier access to customers in China – and in Europe as well. Logistics group DHL and Chinese tech company JD.com are joining forces to make that happen.

By Ning Wang

Die WhatsApp App wird auf dem iPad angezeigt.

News | Digital Services Act

January 27th, 2026

DSA: WhatsApp channels classified as a Very Large Online Platform

The European Commission has classified the WhatsApp channels feature as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) service, subjecting it to VLOP rules under the Digital Services Act. The private messaging service remains exempt from these rules.

By Corinna Visser

French President Emmanuel Macron during the 2026 Ambassadors' Conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on January 8, 2026.

News | Digital Markets Act

January 9th, 2026

DMA: Macron and other consultation participants are calling for consistent enforcement

In a speech, the French President emphasized how important it is for the Commission to stand firm on the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). Some consultation participants are calling for even stricter rules.

By Corinna Visser

News | Disinformation

December 18th, 2025

Digital Services Act: MPs criticize enforcement

A group of MEPs has leveled harsh criticism at the Commission’s work. They consider business models based on hate to be dangerous and are calling on the Commission to enforce the DSA more systematically.

By Corinna Visser

Junge, 8 Jahre, wird daran gehindert, eine pornographische Webseite aufzurufen, DEUTSCHLAND, HAMBURG, 10.05.2019. Boy, 8 years, is being stopped to visit a pornographic website, GERMANY, HAMBURG, 10.05.2019. Junge wird daran gehindert, eine pornographische Webseite aufzurufen Boy is being stopped to visit a pornographic website

News | Platforms

November 21st, 2025

DSA: Supervisory authorities define new priorities

The EU Commission and the 27 national supervisory authorities want to place the protection of minors and the fight against illegal content on online platforms at the heart of their work.

By Till Hoppe

News | Disinformation

November 11th, 2025

EPP leader: Weber calls social media ”anti-democratic at its core”

The chair of the Christian Democrat EPP group in the EU Parliament is calling for stricter regulation of online platforms. Their algorithms are ”a public good” and must be made transparent.

By Till Hoppe