Connected - June 2025
Written By
Regulatory and Public Affairs Director
Belgium
Ireland
As Regulatory & Public Affairs Director in Brussels, I assist companies facing an unprecedented wave of new EU regulation that will have an impact on every business operating in the digital and data-related economy. I help companies navigate complex EU decision-making processes and understand the practical application of the law to their sectors.
The June 2025 edition has been edited by Francine Cunningham with contributions from the Regulatory and Public Affairs team.
It’s summertime, which can only mean one thing: lots of European Commission consultations to respond to just as you were planning to head to the beach! In this issue we look at the call for evidence for a future Digital Networks Act and what to expect from the planned Digital Fairness Act. We also look at the state of play of AI Act implementation, including the current consultation on High-Risk AI systems. In addition, we capture the main trends for the aerospace and space industries in evidence at the recent Paris Air Show.
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EU Telecoms Reform: what to expect from the Digital Networks Act
The European Commission recently launched a call for evidence which is open until 11 July 2025 in the run up to proposed Digital Networks Act (“DNA”). This presents an opportunity to simplify and further harmonise the current EU telecoms regulatory framework under the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), with a view to increasing the competitiveness of the EU telecoms sector as well as fostering a more integrated single market. Accordingly, this could process could lead to substantial reform of EU telecommunications regulation. An eventual DNA proposal is scheduled for adoption in Q4 2025.
For more information, please contact Rory Coutts and Anthony Rosen.
AI Act: From timelines to tensions – A mid-2025 round-up
As the EU’s landmark Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) moves from legislative text to implementation, the first half of 2025 has brought a series of notable developments. These include updates to the implementation timeline, delays in the Code of Practice for General-Purpose AI (GPAI) and a public consultation on high-risk AI systems. While progress is being made, the path to full enforcement remains complex and there are increasing calls for a pause in AI Act implementation.
For more information, please contact Paolo Sasdelli.
Ofcom’s strategic approach to AI
On 6 June 2025, the UK’s converged communications regulator, Ofcom, published a statement outlining its approach to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). It details Ofcom’s approach to the use and adoption of AI in its regulated sectors (Telecoms, Broadcasting & Media, Post, Online Safety and Spectrum) and also how it can use AI as part of its regulatory enforcement.
For more information, please contact Anthony Rosen.
Who’s the fairest of them all? DFA plans to transform online consumer protection
At a time when policy momentum is strongly in favour of simplifying and streamlining digital regulation to boost EU competitiveness, the European Commission is nevertheless taking steps to introduce a new, ambitious proposal in the form of a Digital Fairness Act (DFA). The planned initiative aims to address concerns about unfair digital practices that undermine consumer rights in the digital environment, such as addictive designs and user interfaces using “dark patterns” to trick users into making unintended decisions or purchases online.
For more information, please contact Francine Cunningham.
Le Bourget 2025: a showcase of Europe’s strategic autonomy or strategic ambitions?
The 2025 edition of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget on 16-22 June confirmed a strong trend within the aerospace and space industries: a growing focus on sovereignty and defence. In response to ongoing global conflicts and rising international competition, Europe is placing renewed emphasis on strategic autonomy.
For more information, please contact Willy Mikalef and Elie Badawi.
Time to revisit data retention?
The European Commission received over 5,000 responses to its recent call for evidence for an impact assessment with regard to the role of data retention rules at EU level. Many of the responses to the consultation, which closed on 18 June, strongly opposed the Commission’s initiative to reboot data retention obligations. This illustrates that data retention is a hot topic that gets wide attention across the market, civil rights organisations and EU citizens.
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For more information, please contact Feyo Sickinghe.
