2026 Nr. 2: Summer Update – What We're Working On

Dear reader,

The past few months have been a busy time for tech policy – and for the interface team. Before the summer break, we're sharing a selection of our latest publications, media contributions and research on the issues shaping Europe's digital future.

Whether you're reading from your desk, a train or a beach chair, we hope you'll find something that sparks new ideas. We'll be back in autumn and look forward to catching up then.

Happy reading! 

Luisa Seeling
Lead Writing, Editing & Publishing

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Our Latest Policy Papers 

Making Public Compute Work for Applied AI Startups: A Deep Dive Into Poland’s AI Factory Ecosystem

by Jan Króliński, Dr. Nicole Lemke 

How can public AI compute better support Europe's AI startups? Jan Króliński and Dr. Nicole Lemke argue that AI factories should be designed around the needs of applied AI companies. Drawing on interviews with startups in strategic sectors, they show why tailored public compute is key to strengthening Europe's AI competitiveness.

Data bought, rights ignored: European intelligence services' use of commercially sourced data 

by Corbinian Ruckerbauer, Dr. Thorsten Wetzling

What happens when intelligence agencies buy personal data from commercial vendors? Dr. Thorsten Wetzling and Corbinian Ruckerbauer reveal major gaps in the oversight of commercially sourced data and argue that stronger legal safeguards are needed to protect fundamental rights.

Social Media Age Gating in the EU: Perspectives on Member States laws restricting minors' access to social media platforms (+ AgeGate Tracker)by Catherine Schneider

by Jessica Galissaire, Salma Gomez, Lena-Maria Böswald

How are EU countries approaching social media age restrictions for minors? Jessica Galissaire, Salma Gomez, and Lena-Maria Böswald explore the rapidly evolving policy landscape, while the accompanying AgeGate Tracker offers a regularly updated overview of age-gating initiatives across all EU Member States, making it easy to follow developments as they unfold.

European AI Competitiveness Beyond Frontier Models: Insights From AI Startups in Five Strategic Markets

by Dr. Nicole Lemke

Does Europe need to build the next frontier AI model to stay competitive? Dr. Nicole Lemke argues that Europe's greatest opportunities lie beyond the frontier model race, highlighting the strategic AI markets where European startups are already gaining traction and where targeted investment could have the biggest impact. 

From Chips to Grids: How Energy Constraints Influence AI Compute Expansion in Europe

by Maria Nowicka

Can Europe build the AI infrastructure it needs to stay competitive? Maria Nowicka takes a close look at how large AI data centres are built and powered, showing how growing demand for compute is running up against energy constraints – and why overcoming these bottlenecks will require coordinated policies.  

Talent in, Talent out: The Shifting Geography of the Global AI Workforce

by Siddhi Pal, Catherine Schneider, Ruggero Marino Lazzaroni

Where does AI talent come from, and where is it going? Siddhi Pal and Catherine Schneider map global AI talent flows and argue that Europe needs a more holistic approach to nurturing, attracting, and retaining talent – one that prioritises not only scale, but also inclusion. 

From Crisis to Renewal: Addressing AI's Impact on Our Information Ecosystem 

by Lena-Maria Böswald with IPPR

How are Google's AI Overviews changing the way people access news – and what does that mean for journalism? Lena-Maria Böswald, Roa Powell (IPPR) and Tyreese Calnan (IPPR) unpack the growing impact of AI-generated search summaries on news publishers and explain why Europe needs policies that protect both quality journalism and a diverse online information ecosystem.

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interface in the Media

Please note that some content may be behind a paywall, and not all of it is in English. 

• Financial Times: Dr. Thorsten Wetzling challenges the narrative that Germany’s intelligence services are excessively constrained.

• Bloomberg: Dr. Nicole Lemke explains why industrial AI is one of Europe's strongest opportunities to remain competitive – if its investment becomes more strategic.  

• Financial Times: Dr. Thorsten Wetzling warns that surveillance laws have failed to keep pace with European intelligence agencies' increasing reliance on commercially available personal data.

• Reuters: Julia Christina Hess comments that the EU Commission's latest technology sovereignty package reflects a more pragmatic approach to strengthening Europe’s digital resilience.

• Bloomberg: Maria Nowicka comments on the repeated delays and lack of transparency in the EU’s plans to invest €20 billion in AI data centres. 

• Diplomatic Courier: Siddhi Pal argues that winning the global AI race requires targeted AI talent strategies.

• DIE ZEIT: Dr. Sven Herpig and co-authors argue that banning Signal in response to recent espionage incidents would be counterproductive.

• dpa covers research by Siddhi Pal and Catherine Schneider, showing that Germany remains the EU's leading AI hub but must attract and retain diverse talent to stay globally competitive.

• Euronews features Siddhi Pal and Catherine Schneider’s research on global AI talent flows, highlighting how shifting migration patterns are creating new opportunities for Europe.

• Table.Briefings: Lena-Maria Böswald and colleagues from IPPR argue that competition law should be at the centre of Europe's response to AI-generated search summaries and their growing impact on media pluralism.  

• MLex: Jessica Galissaire argues that evidence emerging from recent U.S. court cases against Big Tech could significantly strengthen enforcement of the EU’s Digital Services Act.

• Politico: Dr. Sven Herpig explains why secure messaging apps such as Signal remain the best available option for politicians.
  

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Debating Policy: Events & Panels

• Live podcast and cyber security panel at Cybernation Conference
  At a Wirtschaftsrat der CDU conference, Dr. Sven Herpig spoke on Germany's cyber security architecture, calling for stronger implementation, greater accountability and a new strategic approach. He also recorded a live episode of his Cybernation podcast with his co-hosts.

• Special Panel advising President von der Leyen on child safety online
  Jessica Galissaire contributed to the European Commission's Special Panel on child safety online, arguing that protecting children requires stronger enforcement of existing rules and tackling harmful platform design – rather than simply stricter age-gating measures. 

• Workshop on semiconductor cooperation in Seoul
  The European Chips Act 2 proposal explicitly highlights the importance of strategic partnerships. Julia Christina Hess and Maria Nowicka hosted a workshop in Seoul to discuss what this could mean in practice.

• Panel on Artificial Intelligence in War
  Helene Pleil joined a panel hosted by the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), the Frankfurter Rundschau, and the Catholic Academy Rabanus Maurus to discuss how AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping warfare, highlighting the need for meaningful human oversight.

• Building European AI: are we on the right track?
  At TEDxBerlin and the German American Trade & Tech Conference (GATTC), Dr. Nicole Lemke explored Europe's AI competitiveness, arguing that strategic partnerships and Europe's strengths in trustworthy, applied AI are key to long-term digital resilience.

• Grow the Future Fellowship of the Heinrich Böll Foundation
  As one of this year's fellows, Julia Christina Hess joined a study tour to Arizona and California to discuss the environmental and political challenges surrounding AI data centres with policymakers, researchers and civil society. 

• Panel on AI and the Future of Work: debating European sovereignty in AI
  At a panel at Microsoft Berlin, organized by Hertie AI Policy Initiative, Catherine Schneider examined the opportunities and challenges AI presents for the future of work.

• re:publica 2026
  Our experts Julia Christina Hess, Catherine Schneider, Dr. Thorsten Wetzling and Lena-Maria Böswald took the stage to discuss topics ranging from Europe's AI strategy and intelligence reform to digital fairness, while our fundraiser Karen Schmiady joined a conversation on building a European tech policy think tank.

• Parliamentary breakfast in the German Bundestag
  Together with German parliamentarians, Maria Nowicka and Julia Christina Hessexamined what it will take to build Europe's AI compute infrastructure, highlighting the need for AI policies grounded in the realities of hardware, energy, and supply chains.

• Panel Discussion: Is Europe's cybersecurity regulation up to scratch?
  Christina Rupp contributed to a panel discussion at the V2 Security Conference in Copenhagen on Europe’s cybersecurity regulatory framework, examining implementation challenges, the Cybersecurity Act revision, and AI-driven cybersecurity risks.