The European Commission confirmed the penalty on Thursday, saying the Chinese e-commerce company did not properly identify and manage risks linked to products sold to EU consumers.

The case sits under the Digital Services Act, a law that governs large online platforms.

The Commission opened its investigation in 2024, shortly after Temu expanded further across Europe. It followed complaints from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 17 of its national members.

Regulators said those complaints pointed to unsafe goods circulating widely on the platform.

Officials also carried out mystery shopping tests. A high number of phone chargers failed basic safety checks, while several baby toys also contained chemicals above legal limits or created choking risks.

The EU said Temu did not go far enough in assessing how its systems might increase those risks. It pointed to product recommendation tools and influencer-linked promotions that could push more unsafe goods into view.

Henna Virkkunen, a European Commission official responsible for technology, criticised the company’s approach.

She said “the company’s assessment of its risks leaves regulators, users, and the public in the dark about the true scale of potential harm posed by illegal products sold on Temu,”

“Now it is time for Temu to comply with the law,” she added.

The Commission said the platform must now submit a compliance plan by August 28, 2026. Officials will review the plan two months after submission to decide if Temu has met its obligations.

Temu responded to the decision and rejected parts of the findings. A spokesperson said: “Temu respects the objectives of the Digital Services Act and the need for clear, consistent rules across the digital economy. However, we disagree with the European Commission’s decision and consider the fine to be disproportionate,”

The company added: “The decision relates to our first DSA assessment in 2024 and does not reflect the current state of our systems. Temu engaged constructively with the Commission throughout the process and has since taken further steps to strengthen risk assessment, platform governance, and user protection,”

Temu also said it would continue to work with regulators and consider its options.

The penalty is the second enforcement action under the Digital Services Act. It is also the largest fine issued so far under the law. The first was against X, which faced a penalty over transparency issues.

The law requires large platforms to identify and reduce systemic risks. It also demands stronger oversight of illegal or harmful products, along with clearer information on how recommendation systems operate.

Beyond Temu, the EU investigation also revealed issues about low-cost imports from China. Officials have been placing focus on large online marketplaces as part of trade and consumer protection efforts.

Other platforms are also under review. Shein and AliExpress are both facing separate investigations linked to unsafe or counterfeit goods.

Meanwhile, JD.com is under examination over its planned purchase of German retailer Ceconomy, with regulators questioning whether foreign subsidies may distort competition.

There is also a policy debate inside the EU, with officials discussing new trade and industrial measures aimed at balancing competition with Chinese e-commerce firms and protecting local businesses.

The issue has also reached the global level. In the United States, Temu stopped shipping directly from China after a policy change closed a duty exemption on low-value imports.

The programme provides fully funded master’s degrees in sustainable energy at nine specialised higher-education institutions across Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.

Demand for the programme has been exceptionally high. From 10,442 applications, scholarships were awarded to 72 academically outstanding candidates from 11 ECOWAS member states, with over 40% female representation.

The programme aims to strengthen human-capital development in the West African electricity sector by supporting postgraduate training and enhancing the capacity of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant education in sustainable energy and energy-efficiency systems. Alongside rigorous academic study, scholars received research support and mentorship to advance innovations that directly benefit the region.

All 72 scholars under the programme completed their research work in sustainable energy. Today, we highlight five scholars who illustrate the transformative impact of the programme through research that addresses real-world energy challenges in West Africa, from electric mobility and air-quality monitoring to renewable-energy optimisation, environmental data systems, and national energy-demand reduction.

Research Highlights from Five EU–ECOWAS Scholars

1. Blessing Nneka Ben-Festus (Nigeria)

Research: IoT-Enabled Predictive Maintenance and Energy Optimisation in Modern Inverter Systems

Institution: University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Blessing developed one of the first locally relevant Battery Management Systems (BMS) for Nigeria’s widely used inverter systems.

By integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) with machine-learning-based predictive maintenance, the study demonstrates how low-cost hardware and advanced analytics can dramatically improve safety and energy performance in household backup-power systems.

This Battery Management System (BMS) is capable of delivering:

• A three-sensor platform monitoring voltage, current, and temperature
• A remote-data system using an Arduino microcontroller and a Global System for Mobile Communications module
• Machine-learning models achieving 99% accuracyin predicting battery ageing and 92% accuracy in decision-tree diagnostics
• Proven improvements in battery safety, lifespan, and reliability

Impact for ECOWAS: Improved safety, lower household costs, enhanced confidence in decentralised solar and inverter systems, and reduced energy waste across the region.

2. Ruth Mawunyo Kokovena (Togo)

Research: Building a Low-Cost Environmental Monitoring System to Support Renewable Energy Planning

Institution: University of Lomé, Togo

Ruth developed SISEE, an affordable, multi-sensor environmental monitoring system designed for regions where high-precision weather stations are too costly to install or maintain. The system captures temperature, relative humidity, solar irradiation, tide levels, and GPS location, using open-source software and low-cost sensors.

SISEE is capable of delivering:

• Temperature accuracy nearing ±0.5°C, comparable to entry-level commercial stations
• Over 80% correlation in solar-irradiation tracking
• Effective monitoring of tidal variations for coastal energy planning
• Real-time data transmission and visualisation

Impact for ECOWAS: Supports solar-resource assessment, coastal-energy planning, climate-monitoring infrastructure, and decentralised data collection for national energy strategies.

3. Godwin Josiah Ajisafe, (Nigeria) – Under the supervision of Ayodele T. R & Ogunjuyigbe A.S 

Research: Determination of the Functional End-of-Life Threshold of Electric Vehicle Lithium-ion Batteries under Urban Lagos Driving Conditions

Institution: University of Ibadan, Nigeria

This study provides the first Lagos-specific model for predicting the end-of-life of Electric Vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries under real urban driving and environmental conditions. Machine-learning algorithms, including Support Vector Regression, Random Forest, and Decision Trees, were trained using local data such as temperature, humidity, traffic intensity, driving behaviour, and charging patterns.

The model is capable of delivering:

• Near-perfect predictive accuracy (Coefficient of Determination R² = 0.999)
• Identification of heat and stop-and-go traffic as major contributors to battery degradation
• Strong foundations for EV-fleet management, charging-infrastructure planning, and battery-recycling initiatives

Impact for ECOWAS: Enables realistic EV-policy development, supports circular-economy planning, and strengthens regional capacity for clean transport systems.

4. Kevin Konan N’guessan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Research: TGIME-ES: A Sustainable Energy Management and Solar Integration Solution for National Energy Demand Reduction

Institution: INP-HB, Côte d’Ivoire

Kevin developed TGIME-ES, an intelligent-energy-management solution that reduces electricity consumption while enhancing solar integration. The system was deployed across residential, commercial, and industrial sites.

TGIME-ES is capable of delivering:

• 22,962 kilowatt-hoursof energy saved in four months
• 2,149,745 West African CFA francs in cost savings
• 28% reductionin electricity bills
• National-scale modelling showing TGIME-ES can slow demand growth by more than 50%

Impact for ECOWAS: Offers a scalable, locally developed approach to energy-efficiency, reduced grid pressure, and improved adoption of solar technologies.

5. Patience Yaa Dzigbordi Quashigah (Ghana)

Research: Machine-Learning-Based Performance Analysis of Two Low-Cost Sensors for Measuring Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and Fine Particulate Matter (PM₂.₅)

Institution: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana

Patience evaluated two low-cost air-quality sensors, costing approximately USD 100, as alternatives to reference-grade stations costing up to USD 250,000. Using machine-learning calibration, the study improved the accuracy of monitoring carbon dioxide (CO₂), fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), ultra-fine particulate matter (PM₁), coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀), temperature, humidity, and methane (CH₄).

These sensors are capable of delivering:

• Clear model ranking, with Random Forest performing best
• Reliable environmental data after machine-learning calibration
• Insights into sensor limitations and calibration techniques
• Evidence that low-cost networks can support large-scale monitoring

Impact for ECOWAS: Enhances affordable air-quality monitoring, supports solar-energy forecasting, informs emissions policy, and enables community-level environmental awareness.

Overall Programme Impact

These five research projects demonstrate the success and strategic relevance of the EU–ECOWAS Scholarship Programme for Sustainable Energy. Together, the scholars’ work:

• Strengthens regional capacity for renewable-energy innovation
• Provides scientific evidence for policy and infrastructure planning
• Supports environmental monitoring and public-health initiatives
• Advances energy efficiency, electric mobility, and solar deployment
• Builds a new generation of skilled experts driving West Africa’s green-energy transition

The programme is creating a pipeline of talented professionals equipped to support ECOWAS member states in accelerating sustainable-energy adoption, reducing emissions, and improving energy security across the region.

In its preliminary findings released on Friday, the Commission said Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok may have placed “burdensome procedures and tools” that make it difficult for independent researchers to examine how these platforms influence public life, health, and safety. 

It described such access as “an essential transparency obligation under the DSA, as it provides public scrutiny into the potential impact of platforms on our physical and mental health.”

Meta and TikTok both denied wrongdoing; a Meta spokesperson told Reuters, “We have introduced changes to our content reporting options, appeals process, and data access tools since the DSA came into force and are confident that these solutions match what is required under the law in the EU.” 

TikTok, however, maintained that while it supports transparency, regulatory overlaps complicate compliance. “But requirements to ease data safeguards place the DSA and GDPR in direct tension,” a company spokesperson said. 

“If it is not possible to fully comply with both, we urge regulators to provide clarity on how these obligations should be reconciled.”

The DSA, which came fully into effect in August 2023, imposes strict obligations on “Very Large Online Platforms” such as Meta and TikTok. These platforms are expected to give researchers access to public data, allow users to report illegal content like hate speech or terrorism, and disclose how their algorithms make content recommendations.

The Commission said Meta’s Facebook and Instagram failed to offer a “user-friendly and easily accessible” system for flagging harmful content, including child sexual abuse and terrorist material. It also accused Meta of using “deceptive interface designs” that could confuse or discourage users from reporting such posts. 

TikTok’s data-sharing framework was similarly criticised for being unreliable and incomplete, limiting research into online harms.

If these violations are confirmed after further consultations, both companies could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue, a penalty that could cost Meta more than $7 billion based on its 2024 earnings.

Despite the serious implications, the findings are preliminary. The companies have the opportunity to respond and address the breaches before any final decision is made. The Meta spokesperson added that the company would “continue to negotiate with the Commission.”

The probe forms part of the EU’s focus on Big Tech, which has already placed X (formerly Twitter), Google, YouTube, and Amazon under investigation for issues ranging from disinformation to product safety.

The Lazio Regional Administrative Court confirmed on Tuesday that Amazon restricted competition in Italy’s e-commerce logistics sector. 

However, it ruled that the Italian Antitrust Authority (AGCM) had wrongly applied a discretionary 50% surcharge to the original figure. The judges said the regulator failed to adequately justify why Amazon’s global turnover should trigger such an increase.

Although the court did not provide a revised figure, removing the surcharge would bring the penalty closer to €750 million, according to calculations cited by Reuters. Amazon has yet to respond to the ruling.

The fine, handed down in December 2021, was one of the toughest sanctions ever imposed on a U.S. tech giant in Europe. Regulators accused Amazon of favouring its own logistics service, Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA), at the expense of independent providers. 

Sellers who chose FBA were reportedly rewarded with better visibility and access to Prime benefits, tilting the playing field in Amazon’s favour.

The court’s decision preserves the core finding of Amazon being engaged in anti-competitive issues. What it does change is the financial weight of the punishment. 

In striking out the surcharge, the ruling exposes a weakness in how competition regulators calculate penalties against multinational corporations with revenues that far exceed the scale of their local operations.

Across Europe, Amazon is still facing some issues. Authorities in Germany, France and at the European Commission have launched similar investigations, many centred on platform self-preferencing, data use, and unfair treatment of third-party sellers.

The case reveals that European regulators are determined to hold Big Tech accountable, and applying financial penalties in proportion to global tech revenues is still legally and politically complex.

The inauguration took place at the NDPC office in Abuja.

Through the NDPC, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is set to host the 10th edition of this prestigious conference and AGM.

This event will gather esteemed delegates and participants from across Africa and beyond, including Heads of Data Protection Authorities, data protection experts, multinational corporations, development partners, and foreign investors.

This aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8th-point agenda in the area of  economic growth and job creation.

In his inaugural address, Dr Olatunji expressed his appreciation to the LOC members for their enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate with the Commission to ensure the success of the event.

He underscored the significance of the conference, describing it as the largest event in Africa’s data protection and privacy ecosystem.

“This event is not about the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) or the NDPC alone, but about Nigeria. That is why we have selected committee members from diverse sectors,” he said.

The LOC comprises representatives from various sectors, including FMCIDE, NCC, NIPOST, NIGCOMSAT, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Bank represented by ID4D Project office, Digital Transformation Center, European Union, Meta, Google, AWS, Microsoft, Management Edge, ISACA, MasterCard, Office of Data Protection Commissioner, Kenya, and the media amongst others.

Dr Olatunji urged the committee members to work collaboratively and exchange ideas to bring the world to Nigeria and ensure the success of the event.

He emphasized that the conference will be a crucial platform to showcase Nigeria as a peaceful, safe, and attractive investment destination.

“We must highlight Nigeria’s positive image and prove that Nigeria is a good and hospitable country,” he added.

He noted that Nigeria’s hosting of the NADPA-RADPA conference underscores the NDPC’s traction within a short period of establishment and the nation’s commitment to data protection and digital innovation on the global stage.

Dr. Olatunji said “though we started later than some in the data protection and privacy ecosystem, we have already made significant strides, even at the global level.”

According to Itunu Dosekun, head, Media Unit, NDPC, the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RADPA), established in Ouagadougou in September 2016, consists of 23 Data Protection Authorities and others with observer status from across Africa. Its primary objective is to provide a platform for exchanges and cooperation among its members while amplifying Africa’s voice in global partnerships.

This reduction in tariffs for Tesla EVs follows further investigations requested by the company, which prompted the European Commission to reevaluate the extent of subsidies Tesla received from the Chinese government.

The revised tariffs are part of an investigation by the European Commission into alleged high subsidies provided to Chinese EV manufacturers. While Tesla’s case has seen a reduction in the proposed duties, the Commission has maintained that Chinese EV production benefits extensively from government support. 

Consequently, other Chinese EV producers could face tariffs of up to 36.3%, slightly down from the original maximum of 37.6%.

Tesla had argued for a recalculation of its EVs tariffs based on the specific subsidies it received, claiming they were less substantial compared to those granted to local Chinese automakers. The Commission’s verification process confirmed the position of Tesla, leading to a reduction in its tariff rate.

This investigation, one of the most high-profile trade disputes between the EU and China in recent years, has drawn objections from Beijing. China’s Ministry of Commerce has asserted that the conclusions were reached unilaterally by the EU and not through mutual agreement. 

The ministry has urged the EU to seek a balanced and pragmatic solution to prevent further escalation of trade tensions.

The proposed tariffs, which would be added to the EU’s standard 10% duty on car imports, are intended to level the playing field between European automakers and their Chinese counterparts. 

The final tariffs will be determined following the conclusion of the EU’s investigation in the coming months, with interested parties allowed to submit comments on the findings until the end of August.

The European Commission’s decision will ultimately require approval from the EU’s 27 member states. A qualified majority vote, representing 65% of the EU population, would be necessary to reject the proposed tariffs, making it unlikely that the measures will be overturned.

While some Chinese automakers, such as BYD, Geely, and SAIC, may see marginal reductions in their tariff rates due to cooperation with the investigation, the majority of Chinese EV imports are still expected to face high duties. 

Added to this, Chinese firms engaged in joint ventures with European manufacturers, like Volkswagen’s SEAT and BMW’s Mini, could benefit from lower tariffs on their China-made vehicles.

The final decision on these tariffs is expected by the end of October, bringing a new chapter in EU-China trade relations and impacting the global electric vehicle market.

The platform began processing user data without seeking permission, leading to a fresh wave of privacy complaints across multiple European countries.

The issue came to light when a vigilant user noticed a new setting that revealed X had quietly started using post data from EU users for its Grok AI chatbot. This discovery drew immediate concern from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), the main body responsible for overseeing X’s compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The Irish DPC quickly initiated legal proceedings against X, aiming to halt the processing of unauthorised data. However, privacy advocates, including the non-profit organisation noyb, have condemned the DPC’s response as insufficient. 

Noyb, led by privacy activist Max Schrems, has lodged complaints in nine countries, arguing that X’s actions violate several GDPR provisions. These complaints focus on the lack of transparency and consent in X’s data handling practices.

This situation has brought back the issue of personal data protection in the EU. Under the GDPR, companies are required to have a valid legal basis for processing personal data, typically through user consent. However, X has attempted to justify its actions under the “legitimate interest” clause — a defence that has already been dismissed by the European Court of Justice in similar cases involving other tech giants.

Despite this, X continued its data processing until early August 2024, without adequately informing users or offering them a chance to opt out. A setting allowing users to block data processing was only added in late July, long after the data had been ingested into the AI system.

Max Schrems and other privacy advocates are calling for more strict enforcement of GDPR regulations, noting that companies must obtain consent before using personal data for AI training or any other purposes. They argue that the current situation brings out the need for stronger oversight to prevent companies from bypassing user rights.

The European Commission issued a statement of objections on Tuesday, stating that it suspects Microsoft of abusing its dominant market position.

The investigation into Microsoft’s practices began in July 2023, following a complaint lodged by Slack, a rival communication platform. The complaint alleged that Microsoft’s integration of Teams into its cloud-based productivity suites was anticompetitive. A second complaint was also received from alfaview GmbH, raising similar concerns.

Microsoft’s Teams is a cloud-based communication and collaboration tool that offers messaging, calling, video meetings, and file sharing. The European Commission’s preliminary findings suggest that since April 2019, Microsoft has restricted competition by tying Teams with its productivity applications, thereby disadvantageous to other communication and collaboration software providers.

The Commission is concerned that Microsoft’s practice of bundling Teams with its SaaS (Software as a Service) productivity applications forced customers to acquire Teams without an option to exclude it. 

This practice may have given Teams an unfair distribution advantage and restricted interoperability with competitors, potentially limiting innovation and harming customers in the European Economic Area.

In response to the investigation, Microsoft has made some changes to its distribution model, offering versions of its suites without Teams. However, the Commission found these measures insufficient to alleviate its concerns and indicated that more substantial changes are necessary to restore fair competition.

The statement of objections is a preliminary step in antitrust investigations. It allows Microsoft to respond to the allegations and present its case. If the Commission ultimately finds that Microsoft has infringed EU competition rules, it could impose a fine of up to 10% of the company’s annual worldwide turnover and mandate further remedies to end the anticompetitive behaviour.

Microsoft now has the opportunity to review the Commission’s evidence, respond in writing, and request an oral hearing. The duration of the investigation will depend on various factors, including the complexity of the case and the level of cooperation from Microsoft.

Meta recently notified users in the UK and Europe that, starting June 26, publicly shared information could be used to “develop and improve” its AI products. This includes posts, images, captions, comments, and Stories, but excludes private messages.

The European advocacy group NOYB (None of Your Business) has criticized Meta’s move, filing complaints with data protection authorities in 11 countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, and Germany. 

NOYB says that Meta’s use of years’ worth of user content constitutes an “abuse of personal data for AI.” The group has urged regulators to intervene and halt Meta’s plans, emphasizing that the changes contravene the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Meta, however, maintains that its approach complies with privacy laws and is similar to practices adopted by other major tech firms. The company insists that its use of public user data is essential for training AI systems to reflect the diverse cultures and languages of European communities. 

In a blog post from May 22, Meta stated that such data would enhance the rollout of its generative AI features, which include chatbots and image generators.

Individuals, including NOYB founder Max Schrems, argue that Meta should seek explicit user consent rather than relying on a complex opt-out process. 

Users who wish to object must utilize a form explaining how the data processing affects them, a process Schrems describes as “highly awkward” and potentially dissuasive. 

Schrems has also pointed out that the European Court of Justice has previously ruled against similar uses of user data by Meta for advertising purposes, questioning the legitimacy of the company’s current approach.

Meta’s policy shift has drawn attention to issues of data privacy and the ethical use of personal information in AI development. The Irish Data Protection Commission, which oversees Meta’s compliance with EU laws, has acknowledged receiving complaints from NOYB and is investigating the matter.

The complaints centre on concerns about transparency and the processing of children’s data on the Microsoft platform, potentially violating the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The first complaint alleges a lack of transparency around data processing. noyb asserts that Microsoft’s contracts with schools attempt to shift responsibility for GDPR compliance onto them. 

Schools, however, lack the capacity to monitor or enforce Microsoft’s data practices, creating a situation where children’s data may be processed in ways that don’t comply with GDPR.

noyb further criticizes Microsoft for providing “consistently vague” information regarding data collection practices within Microsoft 365 Education. This lack of transparency makes it difficult, if not impossible, for parents and children to understand how their data is being used.

The second complaint highlights the use of tracking cookies within Microsoft 365 Education software. These cookies reportedly collect user browsing data and analyze user behaviour, potentially for advertising purposes. 

noyb says such tracking practices occur without the consent of users or the knowledge of the schools themselves, and there appears to be no legal justification for it under GDPR.

The GDPR mandates strong protections for children’s data, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Violations can result in significant fines, potentially reaching up to 4% of a company’s global annual turnover, which could translate to billions of dollars for Microsoft.

noyb has requested that the Austrian DPA investigate the complaints and determine the extent of data processing by Microsoft 365 Education. The company has also urged the authority to impose fines if GDPR violations are confirmed.

Microsoft has yet to respond to the complaints. While the company has a European headquarters in Ireland, noyb emphasizes the “locally relevant” nature of the complaints due to its focus on Austrian schools and children. This could lead to a faster investigation and potential enforcement action by the Austrian DPA.

The GDPR has resulted in hefty penalties for violations involving children’s data in the past, with major social media platforms like Meta and TikTok facing fines. 

Microsoft’s cloud services have also faced investigation in Europe, with the European Data Protection Supervisor raising issues about the EU’s own use of Microsoft 365. These latest complaints add to the ongoing legal complexities surrounding Microsoft’s cloud products in the European Union.