
'Killer robots' are not about Terminator
A European signatory of an open letter about autonomous weapons says the imagery of fictional killer robots is distracting from a seriously dangerous issue.
Friday
25th Aug 2017

A European signatory of an open letter about autonomous weapons says the imagery of fictional killer robots is distracting from a seriously dangerous issue.

Martin Kern has been interim director of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology for almost three years. “I understand it must look a bit unusual from the outside.”

The Copernicus project is a great achievement, but the EU needs to act swiftly to become a world leader in Earth observation data.
The EU is right that diplomacy is key in deterring cyberattacks. Yet, more political decisiveness and coordination are required to be successful.
While many say they seek a solution to the refugee crisis, the answer might be – quite literally – right in front of your face: digital technology.
Baltic nation of 1.3 million inhabitants plans to use its EU presidency to showcase its status as a digital frontrunner.

With two landmark court cases approaching, the European Court of Justice's decisions could have far-reaching effects on citizens' cyber rights.

Brussels says Google has abused a near-monopoly position in online searches to favour its shopping service, but the US company said Brussels cannot prove the charges.

The EU commission wants to increase the number of charging stations, to convince consumers to switch to electric cars.

Major telecoms operators across all 28 EU states have scrapped roaming fees on data, text messages, and calls, as of Thursday (15 June).
EU commission defends shifting money from research and energy baskets to defence fund, saying projects will not be delayed as a consequence.
The European Collaborative Economy Forum, a trade association, has recently started doing advocacy work, while Uber increased its spending on EU lobbying significantly.
Alexey Leonov was the first human to ever walk in space. 'Somebody had to make the first step', he told EUobserver.
The digital currency Ethereum allows people to run so-called smart contracts, potentially creating a decentralised sharing economy, and could be the beginning of the end for firms like Uber and Airbnb.
The EU's executive revealed some of the last-minute changes its officials made to the mid-term review of the digital single market strategy.
EU leaders said there would be almost a million ICT vacancies by 2015, and made digital skills a priority, but in reality the number of vacancies was much lower.
Ride-sharing service Uber has announced it will shut down activities in Denmark in protest over a new law introducing the same requirements for Uber as for other taxi services.
As cities line up to take over the European Medicines Agency some fear a kerfuffle that could destabilise the agency's work and slow down the pace of approving new medicines.
The rapid advancement of medical technology has contributed to people living longer, healthier lives but consumer and campaign groups say devices should come under more scrutiny before they are used on patients.

European Space Agency's director-general says several companies are on board with his idea, which will become visible "very soon".

Cybernetics and artificial intelligence have the potential to treat or cure neurological diseases, according to the world’s first cyborg.
The EU has allowed its defence and security policies to be shaped by powerful lobbyists, many of whom are linked to firms that win lucrative contracts, an investigation shows.
The commission wants to focus on the commercial potential of space rather than the educational or scientific benefits, much to the annoyance of some MEPs.

The EU still wants to allow data to travel unencumbered over borders, but the commissioner in charge is facing 50 national laws telling companies where to store their data.

The European Parliament is expected to approve budget proposals that will see the EU funding military research on a large scale for the first time.
Belgian astronaut Frank De Winne was the first European to lead the International Space Station. 'If you see our planet from above, you see that there are no borders.'
Cars that run on petrol or diesel are meant to be a rarity by the year 2050. Progress is slow. But some Nordic cities have radical visions of how a "Hyperloop" could change that.

As some places struggle to deal with the impact of firms like Uber and Airbnb, other cities are embracing the change and seeking to learn.

European town planners still borrow from the “garden city” ideals of the 19th century, but they might be doing more harm than good.
19 out of 28 member states ban GM crops within their borders, but the Commission's latest approval of GM maize gives more ammunition to EU critics.
Giovanni De Santi, who was the director responsible for a new on-road test method, was moved to a different position in the EU's science body during the height of the Dieselgate crisis.