💣 NEW: Denmark will drop its proposal for mandatory scanning of messaging apps under the EU’s child sexual abuse material law following a major backlash over privacy concerns, its justice minister said today.

For pros: pro.politico.eu/news/207533

Denmark will take its proposed version of an EU law against child sexual abuse material to a ministerial meeting in October — now with French backing.

Out now for Pros: pro.politico.eu/news/204618

The British government has dropped its demand for Apple to provide “backdoor” access to user data, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Tuesday.

By my colleague Mizy Clifton, for Pros.

pro.politico.eu/news/203287

Disrupting active exploitation of on-premises SharePoint vulnerabilities | Microsoft Security Blog Microsoft has observed two named Chinese nation-state actors, Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon, exploiting vulnerabilities targeting internet-facing SharePoint servers. In addition, we have observed a...

Microsoft says it has seen two Chinese nation state hackers exploiting the big Share Point vulnerability. www.microsoft.com/en-us/securi...

Angles of Approach | Sally Rooney What makes Ronnie O’Sullivan the greatest player in the history of snooker? It isn’t just statistical dominance—it lies in his style, in the difference between thinking and acting.

OK in these troubled times, here is the diversion we all need.

(Well, by “we all” I mean “me”)

Sally Rooney is writing about Ronnie O’Sullivan in the New York Review of Books 👇

👊🚀🔥

www.nybooks.com/articles/202...

Pikachu was spotted amongst anti-Erdoğan protesters fleeing from police in Antalya, Turkey last night.

Baltics brace for cyberattacks as they depart Russian electricity grid A long-planned exit from the BRELL power grid has the Baltic countries preparing for Russian retaliation.

Baltics brace for cyberattacks as they depart Russian electricity grid, via @sgclark92.bsky.social and @victorjack.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/balt...

Time flies: Looking back at five years since Brexit How did we get here? February marks five years since Brexit became official. Here are some key developments since the EU-UK breakup.

How did we get here? February marks five years since Brexit became official. Here are some key developments since the EU-UK breakup.
www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...

Elon Musk's influence: Catalyst or symptom of EU political shifts Billionaire Elon Musk has been trying to influence European politics. Is he the cause of the decline of establishment parties, or a sign of a deepe...

It was a rough week for European politicians last week, as Elon Musk took to X to set political fires across the continent. But is Musk really causing problems for European establishment parties, or is he just a symptom something is already deeply wrong?
www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...

Austria’s political situation could tilt EU further right As Vienna prepares to select its first far-right chancellor since World War II, the impact of political changes in Austria are being felt in Brusse...

Q&A: In Herbert Kickl, Austria could get its first far-right chancellor since World War II. @laurenzennser.bsky.social told The Parliament Kickl would boost the EU's pro-Russian and Eurosceptic bloc, in a political turn that has Brussels on tenterhooks.
www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...

EU lines up intel-sharing, cyber squads to stop hospital hacks EU health care sector pummeled with cyberattacks in recent years.

EU lines up intel-sharing, cyber squads to stop hospital hacks, via @sgclark92.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-i...

PM Meloni: Italy's EU transatlantic bridge to Trump and Musk? Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni could get a boost of influence by acting as the EU's Trump whisperer. Yet a trade surplus with the US, low de...

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni visited US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida this weekend. Her visit adds weight to the idea Meloni could be one of Europe's leading "Trump whisperers" as he re-enters the White House.

www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...

It was the top story in our (admittedly paywalled) daily cyber newsletter today, if that helps.

Estonia's border with Russia, in Narva.

Ivangorod Castle, Russia

People queuing in Narva, Estonia, to get through the border into Russia. Some have business to attend to, others are visiting family.

Russian embassy in Tallinn.

As Russia's aggression in Ukraine almost enters its fourth year, a proposal by the Estonian government to ban Russians and Belarusians living in the country from voting in local elections has rehashed some complicated questions of belonging.

My latest for The Parliament Magazine - link below!

To borrow a phrase: We hebben een serieus probleem.

Chinese hack of global telecom providers is ‘ongoing,’ officials warn Officials from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency say the major Chinese hack began in late spring, and they are strongly urging Americans to use encrypted communications.

Chinese government hackers are still in U.S. telecoms systems, despite the US government investigating them since spring — and there’s no end in sight, officials said today:
www.politico.com/news/2024/12...

Félicitations Thomas!

The real sign that the UK has gone to the dogs is not Elon Musk’s threat to buy Farage the election, but the waning standard of sub-editing. (Or maybe X really is still formally called Twitter?)

Ship CABLE VIGILANCE (Cable Layer) Registered in France - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 9329930, MMSI 228416900, Call sign FMQW Vessel CABLE VIGILANCE is a Cable Layer, Registered in France. Discover the vessel's particulars, including capacity, machinery, photos and ownership. Get the details of the current Voyage of CABLE VI...

The ship (Cable Vigilance) that's repairing the C-Lion1 cable that was cut in the Baltic Sea is on location. Repairs due to be complete by the end of the month. www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/detai...

Touched down in Tallinn

Biden Asked Microsoft to “Raise the Bar on Cybersecurity.” He May Have Helped Create an Illegal Monopoly. When the White House welcomed Microsoft’s offer of $150 million in tech services, it helped the world’s largest software provider tighten its grip on federal business and freeze out competitors.

Fascinating story by ProPublica on Microsoft. www.propublica.org/article/micr...

Is anybody in my network attending the Tallinn Digital Summit next week? I’ll be there - shout if you are.

In yesterday's Cyber Insights:
- Quiet discontent over Virkkunen on cyber
- Exclusive: The shortlist to be the new European Data Protection Supervisor
- Lithuania bans China from (some) energy infrastructure
- GDPR class actions incoming?
- European Parliament meeting on UN Cybercrime Convention

I have suddenly and quite randomly got a few followers on here, so I’m giving it a go. I’m now at Politico, covering cybersecurity. Always keen to hear from experts and anyone involved in EU cyber policy.

Also interested in Brussels curry houses, cycling routes, and improving my squash backhand.