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EU Plan to Phase Out High-Risk Tech Draws Fire From China’s Huawei

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The European Union plans to phase out components and equipment from so-called high-risk technology suppliers in critical sectors, under proposed revisions to the EU Cybersecurity Act that have drawn sharp criticism from Huawei.

The draft proposal, released by the European Commission, aims to strengthen protections against rising cyber and ransomware attacks, foreign interference and espionage risks, while reducing Europe’s dependence on non-EU technology providers. Although the Commission did not name specific companies or countries, Huawei is widely expected to be among those affected.

EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the measures would improve security of critical ICT supply chains and bolster Europe’s technological sovereignty. The new rules would apply to 18 key sectors, including telecom networks, cloud services, semiconductors, energy systems, medical devices, drones and connected vehicles.

Under the proposal, mobile operators would have 36 months after publication of a high-risk supplier list to phase out key components. Additional timelines for fixed and satellite networks will be set later. Any restrictions would follow formal risk assessments and market impact studies.

Huawei said excluding suppliers based on country of origin rather than technical evidence violates EU legal principles and World Trade Organization obligations, echoing criticism from China’s foreign ministry. Industry group Connect Europe warned the measures could impose billions of euros in extra costs. The proposal must still be negotiated with EU governments and the European Parliament before becoming law.

European Telcos to Get Unlimited Radio Spectrum Under EU Draft Law

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Europe’s telecom operators are set to gain long-term certainty under a new European Commission proposal that would allow radio spectrum licences to be used for an unlimited duration, marking a major shift in the bloc’s telecom policy. The draft law, known as the Digital Networks Act, is part of a broader overhaul of telecom rules that will require approval from EU member states and the European Parliament.

Under the proposal, spectrum licences would become renewable by default, replacing the current minimum 20-year term. The Commission said the move would increase predictability and encourage investment across the 27-country European Union, particularly as it pursues full fibre broadband coverage between 2030 and 2035. A senior official described unlimited spectrum licensing as a strong signal that the sector is worth sustained investment.

EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said resilient digital infrastructure is critical to Europe’s competitiveness, innovation, and digital sovereignty. The Commission will also outline common rules on licence duration, auction conditions, and pricing to guide national regulators.

However, the proposal stopped short of meeting telecom operators’ long-standing demand that Big Tech contribute directly to network rollout costs. Instead, the Act introduces a voluntary cooperation mechanism between telecom groups and major platforms such as Google, Netflix, and Meta Platforms. Governments may also be allowed to extend the 2030 deadline for replacing copper networks with fibre if more time is needed.

Meta Exempts Italy From WhatsApp Ban on Rival AI Chatbots After Antitrust Order

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Meta Platforms will exclude Italy from its planned ban on rival artificial intelligence chatbots on WhatsApp, following an order from the country’s antitrust authority, according to a notice sent to AI providers and developers and seen by Reuters.

Italy’s competition watchdog, AGCM, last month instructed Meta to suspend the proposed ban while it investigates the company for a suspected abuse of market power, after complaints from rival AI providers. At the European level, the European Commission is also examining whether Meta violated competition rules by restricting access for third-party AI chatbots on WhatsApp, although it has not imposed interim measures.

Blocking rival AI providers from WhatsApp could significantly benefit Meta’s own chatbot and virtual assistant, Meta AI, which was integrated into the messaging platform last year. Critics argue that limiting competitors’ access would further strengthen Meta’s position in AI-powered consumer services.

In its notice to developers circulated earlier this month, Meta said that phone numbers with an Italian country code (+39) are currently exempt from WhatsApp’s updated terms of service, in order to comply with the Italian regulator’s order. The revised terms are scheduled to take effect on January 15 for users outside Italy.

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Meta declined to comment on the changes, referring instead to a previous statement that said the rapid emergence of AI chatbots has placed strain on WhatsApp’s systems, which were not originally designed to support such services. The Italian antitrust authority also declined to comment.

The Italian carve-out drew sharp criticism from rivals. The Interaction Company of California, which developed the AI assistant Poke.com and filed complaints with both Italian and EU regulators, said Meta’s response was insufficient.

“Meta’s move to keep enforcing its new WhatsApp API policy—shutting out AI rivals like Poke.com while only carving out +39 numbers—is deeply disappointing,” said Marvin von Hagen, the company’s co-founder and chief executive. He added that the Italian authority had already found Meta’s conduct to be, at first glance, anti-competitive under EU law, and urged the European Commission to adopt interim measures across the bloc.