Recent Developments in European Digital Regulation and Data Protection
The Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate (AKI) has published a summary of European legislative developments in the digital domain and their interaction with data protection.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), with the participation of AKI, approved in June a document analyzing the interaction between the data regulation and data protection legislation. Concurrently, the EDPB and the European Commission are developing joint guidelines on the interplay between the Artificial Intelligence Regulation and Union data protection law.
The interaction between the Digital Markets Act and the GDPR was the subject of a first draft of joint guidelines by the European Commission and the EDPB, with a preliminary version published in 2025. Work on the final version continues, while Commission procedures, including one concerning Alphabet under Article 6(11) of the Digital Markets Act on access to search engine data, also shape the application of the regulation.
The Directive on platform work must be transposed by Member States by December 2026. In Estonia, a bill is in preparation, on which AKI has already issued two opinions. Platforms acting as controllers are reminded to assess whether their data protection impact assessment takes into account the new requirements before the law enters into force and to update it if monitoring or decision systems change.
The Regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising entered into force on 10 October 2025. The competence of data protection authorities regarding advertising targeting derives directly from this regulation, while that of the Consumer Protection and Technical Surveillance Authority has been effective since 16 March 2026. The EDPB is currently preparing guidelines on the subject and held a stakeholder consultation on 27 March 2026.
The European Commission has initiated a digital omnibus package and an AI omnibus package to simplify legislation. The AI proposal is progressing faster due to its link with the entry into force of certain obligations of the AI Regulation on 2 August 2026. Although some deadlines are postponed, AKI emphasizes that obligations, such as transparency requirements under Article 50(3) of the AI Regulation, remain applicable on that date, and recommends close monitoring of deadlines.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), with the participation of AKI, approved in June a document analyzing the interaction between the data regulation and data protection legislation. Concurrently, the EDPB and the European Commission are developing joint guidelines on the interplay between the Artificial Intelligence Regulation and Union data protection law.
The interaction between the Digital Markets Act and the GDPR was the subject of a first draft of joint guidelines by the European Commission and the EDPB, with a preliminary version published in 2025. Work on the final version continues, while Commission procedures, including one concerning Alphabet under Article 6(11) of the Digital Markets Act on access to search engine data, also shape the application of the regulation.
The Directive on platform work must be transposed by Member States by December 2026. In Estonia, a bill is in preparation, on which AKI has already issued two opinions. Platforms acting as controllers are reminded to assess whether their data protection impact assessment takes into account the new requirements before the law enters into force and to update it if monitoring or decision systems change.
The Regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising entered into force on 10 October 2025. The competence of data protection authorities regarding advertising targeting derives directly from this regulation, while that of the Consumer Protection and Technical Surveillance Authority has been effective since 16 March 2026. The EDPB is currently preparing guidelines on the subject and held a stakeholder consultation on 27 March 2026.
The European Commission has initiated a digital omnibus package and an AI omnibus package to simplify legislation. The AI proposal is progressing faster due to its link with the entry into force of certain obligations of the AI Regulation on 2 August 2026. Although some deadlines are postponed, AKI emphasizes that obligations, such as transparency requirements under Article 50(3) of the AI Regulation, remain applicable on that date, and recommends close monitoring of deadlines.
Informations complémentaires
L’analyse complète est réservée aux membres
Montant de la sanction, thèmes, secteurs, entités et données concernées : l’essai gratuit de 14 jours ouvre la fiche entière et la veille personnalisée.
Essayer gratuitement 14 jours · accès complet · sans carte bancaire