EU Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox under Digital Services Act | Shaping Europe’s digital future. Really!

Most likely a very stupid big government decision! Reeks of government paternalism!

Apparently, the EU wants to fall further behind in AI!

I hope OpenAI or Reddit and others affected will shut down their service in the European Union in response to this decision by the EU Commission!

"These services declared that they reach at least 45 million average monthly users in the EU and thus meet the threshold for designation.

Following the notification of the designations, these services have four months, i.e. by January 2027, to comply with the additional DSA obligations for VLOPs [Very Large Online Platforms] and VLOSEs [Very Large Online Search Engines], such as assessing and mitigating the systemic risks [???] stemming from their service and algorithmic systems related to the

dissemination of illegal content [???], the 

negative effects on minors [???], 

users’ physical and mental well-being [???], 

fundamental rights [???], 

electoral processes and public security [???]. ..."

"... The designations bring the total number of platforms and search engines under the DSA's strictest tier to 28.

The regulation has already produced around €870 million in fines, including a record €550 million penalty against AliExpress in July for failing to curb the sale of illegal and counterfeit goods, a €200 million fine against Temu in May for comparable failings and a €120 million fine against X in December 2025 over content moderation and transparency shortcomings. ..."

Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox under Digital Services Act | Shaping Europe’s digital future

EU places ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under strictest digital safety rules "Brussels has classified ChatGPT as a search engine under the Digital Services Act, a first for an AI chatbot, and designated Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms. All three have four months to comply."

Credits: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Why is climate change ideology so powerful?

It is the perfect excuse/cover for many unwanted things! Global warming and climate change is to a shockingly large extent junk science!

It gives numerous governments of Western countries a perfect excuse/cover to impose socialist central planning on their economy and businesses and other restrictions on individual freedom! It guides their interventions in other countries in Africa, Latin America and elsewhere.

It gives a plethora of mediocre political, social and scientific researchers a perfect excuse/cover to do more junk science!

It gives many non profit organisations a perfect excuse/cover for their existence, activism and for more funding!

CO₂-Emissionen: Volkswagen drohen Milliardenstrafen der EU. Wirklich!

Der Klimawahn tobt nicht nur in der Bananenrepublik D! Ist VW auch exemplarisch für die Misere der Bananenrepublik D? Jede Wette!

Geht es noch absurder?

CO₂-Emissionen: Volkswagen drohen Milliardenstrafen der EU | FAZ (Abo erforderlich) "Weil Volkswagen zu wenig Elektroautos verkauft [???], werden die europäischen Grenzwerte für CO₂-Emissionen nicht eingehalten [???]. Das kann teuer werden. Für die Tochtergesellschaft Porsche deutet sich eine Lösung unter chinesischer Beteiligung an."

100% renewable energy by 2050? A global model maps the way forward. Really!

No wonder, this study came out of communist China (elite Tsinghua University)! Massive socialist central planning and dictatorship are needed!

And the once prestigious Nature journal published this nonsense! Just the abstract of this paper contains ideological terms!

"... This goal is referred to as net-zero emissions [???], as it would entail that emissions and removed gases would balance each other out, resulting in zero total greenhouse gas emissions. ..."

From the abstract:

"Achieving global net-zero power systems by mid-century demands integrated frameworks addressing climate mitigation and energy access equity [???]. 

Here we present a spatio-temporally resolved global power system model (0.25° × 0.25°, 8,760 hours) co-optimizing capacity expansion and operational strategies. Findings show that net-zero global power systems meeting universal electricity needs for decent living standards are technically feasible, requiring 15–20 TW of variable renewable energy (VRE). Abundant VRE resources offer cost-effective electricity access in low-income regions, such as Africa, promoting climate justice [???]. 

Land use is critical, with solar photovoltaics alone requiring over 9 million hectares. Over 80% of VRE is within 200 km of load centres.

Demand-side management could reduce system costs by 6.5% (∼US$182 billion yr−1).

Expanding international transmission and removing renewable technology trade barriers could cut costs by 5.6% (∼US$157 billion yr−1) and 12.2% (∼US$345 billion yr−1), underscoring the pivotal role of international collaboration in building inclusive net-zero power systems."

100% renewable energy by 2050? A global model maps the way forward

Integrated planning of net-zero power systems for all (no public access)

Europe’s Green Deal Is Unraveling. Good riddance!

Recommendable! What took so long! The Iron Curtain fell and socialism spread all over Europe!

The many socialists of the EU united and clearly abused the climate change/global warming hoax/scare as a pretext to impose drastic socialist central planning in Europe.

These arrogant Europeans even tried to impose their lunacy on the rest of the world like colonialists of the past!

"Over the past decade, Europe has played a leading role in shaping global climate policy, highlighted by the launch of the European Green Deal in 2019 — Ursula von der Leyen described it as a “man on the moon moment.” The initiative aims to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 while fostering innovation and strengthening its industrial base.

Yet several years later, the results are deeply disappointing. Instead of meeting its goals, the Green Deal is increasingly associated with higher energy costs, weakened competitiveness, and growing political backlash. It has deepened divisions within the EU, strained global relations, and increased pressure on households and businesses — raising serious doubts about its feasibility and long-term economic impact. ..."

Europe’s Green Deal Is Unraveling | The Daily Economy

EU extends carbon border tax (CBAM) to 180 downstream products and targets ‘loopholes’. Really!

CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) is an abomination of the socialist central planners of the EU! What fools! What arrogance!

Just reminder: Global warming is a hoax and climate change is a religion or pretense for socialist central planners!

President Trump uses tariffs, the EU uses tariffs too in the name of environmentalism!

"... CBAM definitive regime (from 2026 onwards)

The CBAM definitive period will start on 1 January 2026, therefore please read carefully and follow the instructions in the Authorisation Management Module section as soon as possible to submit your CBAM application. Importers of CBAM goods (or their indirect customs representatives) are urged to apply for the status of authorised CBAM declarants ..."

EU extends carbon border tax to 180 downstream products and targets ‘loopholes’ | Article | Compliance Week "The EU is extending its ground-breaking carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which imposes carbon pricing on raw materials imported from outside the EU, to 180 downstream products made from those materials. The CBAM is the first attempt worldwide to tax the carbon emissions of imports. It aims to ensure that domestic manufacturers who must pay for their greenhouse gas emissions under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are not at a competitive disadvantage."

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism "The EU’s environmental policy tool for fair carbon emissions pricing "

Credits: EU verschärft CO₂-Zoll: Kann CBAM Europas Industrie wirklich schützen?

French think tank IREF: Against All Rationality, the EU Persists in its Net-Zero Delusion

Net Zero is indeed a terrible demagoguery by proponents of big government socialism! Net zero is absurd!

"The European Commission has approved a new step towards its 2050 ‘net-zero’ objective, targeting a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 levels by 2040. But a recent report by the French think tank IREF (Institut de Recherches Économiques et Fiscales) delivers a sobering reality check. ...

A recent report by the French think tank IREF (Institut de Recherches Économiques et Fiscales) delivers a sobering reality check. Simple arithmetic already raises red flags. EU emissions fell by 37% over the 33 years from 1990 to today. Achieving an additional 68% reduction in just 17 years would require nearly tripling the pace of decarbonization. If this acceleration fails, the economic consequences of such a quick drop in emissions would be severe. ..."

Think tank IREF: ‘Against All Rationality, the EU Persists in its Net-Zero Delusion’ - Clintel

Loi climat de l’Union Européenne: un désastre économique et sociétal sans aucun effet sur le climat

Der große Selbstbetrug der EU – Das Verbrenner-Verbot lebt weiter

Heller Wahnsinn, was sich die Europäer da wieder erlauben!

Ich hatte schon dazu vor ein paar Tagen hier gebloggt.

Ursula von der Leyen (auch bekannt als Flintensuschi oder Haarspray zementierte Friseuse), ein Überbleibsel der schrecklichen SED Kanzlerin Merkel. Sie wird auch noch bis 2029 oder ganze 10 Jahre im Amt bleiben. Unglaublich!

"Verbrennungsmotors, ist einem Schwindel aufgesessen. Die EU-Kommission verkauft ein „90-Prozent-Ziel“ als Lösung vom Verbrenner-Aus, in Wahrheit zementiert sie den industriellen Selbstmord Europas. Das Verbrenner-Aus wurde in ein bürokratisches Monstrum verwandelt, das der heimischen Industrie den Rest geben wird.

Der neue Plan ist ein Meisterwerk der Realitätsverweigerung. Anstatt den Markt entscheiden zu lassen, soll das Verbot durch Planwirtschaft durchgewetzt werden. Statt 100 Prozent CO2-Reduzierung nur 90 Prozent. Die verbleibenden 10 Prozent der Verbrenner sollen über „grünen Stahl“ und E-Fuels freigekauft werden. Das bedeutet: Ein Autohersteller muss künftig nicht mehr nur Motoren bauen, sondern Zertifikate-Jongleur spielen, um nachzuweisen, dass der Kotflügel aus wasserstoffbasiertem Stahl hergestellt wurde."

Der große Selbstbetrug – Das Verbrenner-Verbot lebt weiter "Das ist keine Verbrenner-Rettung, sondern Etikettenschwindel: Brüssel lässt das Verbot leben und tarnt es als „90-Prozent-Ziel“. Der Rest wird über E-Fuel-Ablasshandel und „grünen Stahl“ bürokratisch freigekauft – plus E-Zwang für Firmenflotten. Brüsseler Planwirtschaft frisst Arbeitsplätze."

Tichy's Einblick Newsletter

Ist die Aufhebung des Verbrennerverbots 2025 durch die EU nur ein großer Schwindel?

NIUS berichtet genau das!

"... Ein klassisches Beispiel dafür, wie sich der Hauptstadtjournalismus zum willigen Erfüllungsgehilfen der Polit-Propaganda macht, ist die gestrige Berichterstattung zum Verbrenner-Aus-Wirrwarr aus Brüssel.

Natürlich hat die EU nicht das „Aus fürs Verbrenner-Aus beschlossen!“ Beschlossen wurde eine Regelung, die fast noch absurder ist als das totale Verbrenner-Verbot und die man Trabi-Regel nennen könnte.

Der CO2-Ausstoß muss nicht um 100 Prozent, sondern um 90 Prozent reduziert werden.

Bedeutet: Nur noch ein sehr kleiner Teil der Autos darf CO2 ausstoßen. Autos, die noch einen ordentlichen Verbrenner haben, werden künstlich brutal verknappt und dadurch sagenhaft teuer.

Wer ab 2035 noch ein richtiges Auto kaufen will, muss sich in einer Warteliste eintragen. Nach ein paar Jahren (wenn man es sich leisten kann) hat man vielleicht Glück und bekommt ein Auto zugeteilt.

Die EU tut wirklich alles dafür, den Kontinent in eine sozialistische Zone zu verwandeln – und die Medien begleiten es wohlwollend. Vielleicht müssen die zwangsverknappten Verbrenner zum Ausgleich ja mit dem subventionierten und trotzdem vollkommen überteuerten „grünen Stahl“ gebaut werden. ..."

Die größten Reformen (aber nur in des Kanzlers Kopf)

Rooftop solar panels become mandatory on new houses in Israel. Really!

Socialist central planning in Israel! Judaism and socialism, there are some commonalities! Here is an example!

What is the point of this mandate?

Rooftop solar panels become mandatory on new houses - Globes "From December 11, 2025, the regulation comes into effect making the installation of rooftop solar panels on new houses mandatory to receive a building permit for new houses and some towers."

The regulatory complexity of the European Green Deal, a masterpiece of a central planning socialist

I bet it is a monstrosity (e.g. look at the charts below)! The objective of net zero emissions by 2050 alone is an expression of the madness of a socialist central planner!

The former Soviet Union collapsed by 1990, long live socialism!

It appears the author of this paper (a professor, i.e. Prof. Dr. Volker Brühl) has limited his focus mostly on "implementation deadlines and reporting requirements". That is not enough! He seems to advocate "thoughtful discussion", what a whimp! The title of his paper is also very lame!

Caveat: I did not read the entire paper.

"The European Green Deal (EGD) has the intention to transform the EU into a sustainable, resource efficient and competitive economy, ensuring zero net emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2050. This article illustrates the complex regulatory architecture of the EGD, which is often overlooked.

While each of the initiatives is reasonable, their combined impact - often reinforcing each other - could impede Europe's global competitiveness, especially in a fragile economic environment. There are some fields where a thoughtful discussion about implementation deadlines and reporting requirements could help to resolve trade-offs between environmental objectives and competitiveness."

P.S. "Professor Volker Brühl is Managing Director of the Center for Financial Studies and Professor for Banking and Finance."

CFS Infomailing

Why Chinese President Xi’s $93B Personal Megacity Remains Empty

Recommendable! When will the Chinese people finally get rid of the communist party rule! What a monster city by socialist central planners!

Gender equality versus gender parity

Men watch out in the battle of the sexes! Some ideologues and demagogues are not satisfied with gender equality!

Gender parity is a terrible oxymoron and ideological term! It is a socialist central planners concoction! It calls for Big Government to impose e.g. gender quotas! Make no mistake gender parity is most likely also implied by leftist ideologies like DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion).

Forced gender parity or equal representation flies in the face of meritocracy!

There is absolutely no point in gender parity! Most often the term will not even be officially used to obfuscate and mislead the public about the real goals!

Worse, gender parity will almost exclusively be applied to selected, preferred professions that are clean, high paying jobs for women. Have you ever heard anyone claiming gender parity for coal miners or construction workers or meat packers or other jobs like it? Let men do the dirty jobs!

Why stop at gender parity? Matriarchy will replace patriarchy if men are too gentle.

Trump's Declaration of Independence From International Taxation by the OECD to prevent a global corporate minimum tax

Good, but dated news! This very important Executive Order on the first day in office by President Trump was surely underreported and it escaped my attention.

Resist the global socialist central planners of the world!

"Among the sweeping executive actions of his first day in office, President Trump delivered a rightful blow to international attempts, stoked by the [46th President] Administration, to encroach on United States tax sovereignty. With a stroke of his pen, Trump made clear that any [46th President] Administration commitments to the scheme of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to institute a global tax regime are without legal effect.

Those commitments had been significant. At the heart of this matter is a Global Tax Code developed by the OECD that it claims received sign-off from 147 countries. Apparently, the [46th President] Administration forgot that only Congress may enact America’s laws as specified under our Constitution. ...

America’s Founding Fathers rebelled against taxation without representation. From this vantage point, acceding to the global tax initiative—cloaked in the guise of a “fair” minimum tax—was itself an egregious overreach. Today’s fight against the OECD is now a rejection of imperialism by foreign powers and unaccountable international bureaucrats, whom the [46th President] Administration aided and abetted. ...

The Global Tax Code’s “Pillar One,” which is still being negotiated, would redistribute taxing rights over profits to be based on the location of sales. OECD, threatens that this is the only way the United States can avoid aggressive “digital service taxes” (DSTs) imposed by other OECD countries, which themselves violate our tax and trade agreements. DSTs disproportionately target American companies while benefiting China. ..."

A Declaration of Independence From International Taxation "By rejecting even a ceasefire on the OECD’s Global Tax Code, the U.S. reaffirms its commitment to self-governance and the Constitution."

Spanien: Deshalb wird die Wochenarbeitszeit auf 37.5 Stunden bei vollem Lohnausgleich reduziert und der Mindestlohn erhöht

Wie Sozialisten eine Wirtschaft ruinieren! Warum nicht per Gesetz die Null Stunden Woche einführen? Spanien braucht jetzt mehr Roboter! 😊

Spanien: Deshalb wird die Wochenarbeitszeit reduziert "Während in Deutschland gefordert wird, länger zu arbeiten, hat die spanische Regierung beschlossen, die Arbeitszeit auf 37,5 Stunden zu senken. Bald soll der Mindestlohn steigen."

Die EU erlaubt das Verpanschen von Lebensmitteln mit Insektenlarven Mehl. Wirklich!

Unglaublich!

Bald werden die sozialistischen Zentralplaner der EU das Verpanschen per Gesetz erzwingen und auf mehr Lebensmittel ausdehnen! Die Sowjetunion ist tot, lang lebe die sozialistische Planwirtschaft!

Dann guten Appetit!

P.S. Es gibt wohl wenig Zweifel, dass in der Zukunft Lebensmittel auf andere Weise hergestellt werden, dazu bedarf es aber nicht die Diktatur der sozialistischen Zentralplaner!

"... Die Europäische Union hat wieder eine ihrer beliebten Verordnungen erlassen. Demnach dürfen ab sofort verschiedenen Lebensmitteln auch Insektenarten beigemischt werden: ins Mehl, ins Brot, ins Mehrkorngebäck, in sogenanntes „Craft Beer“, in Müsli, in Pizza, in Dosensuppen, in Müsliriegel und in Schokolade. ..."

Warum die EU uns mit Insekten füttern will "Die Europäische Union erlaubt die Beimischung von Insektenlarven-Mehl in bestimmten Lebensmitteln. Viele Menschen haben hygienische Bedenken, manche kulinarische, manche ekeln sich einfach nur. Doch das alles verstellt den Blick auf die Politik dahinter."

New buildings in Israel must have solar panels approved by socialist central planners

Bad news! Unfortunately, there is still too much socialism going on in Israel!

As if businesses could afford it! A form of hidden taxation or taxation by stealth!

New buildings must have solar panels - Globes "Israel's National Planning and Building Committee has approved new regulations requiring all new non-residential buildings and houses to install solar panels on their roofs."

Does the US have a planned economy? You might be surprised. Really!

This professor of supply chains (Google Scholar lifetime citation count 497, which is very low) is insinuating that the current economy of the U.S. resembles those of former or still existing communist countries. How foolish!

Of course, individual private companies, whether small or big, do planning, but that has nothing or very little to do with socialist central planning by big government/dictatorship in a unitary state (as opposed to a federal state like the U.S.)! All privately owned companies have to be competitive to survive domestic and foreign competition! Something this professor does not seem to understand or prefers to ignore!

Among many things, free market economy means that anyone can become a successful entrepreneur and build the next big company! What about that professor of supply chains! Very few professors have known to become serious entrepreneurs themselves! Usually, it is the other way around, business or business employees people become professors.

"During the Cold War, a heated debate arose over the role of economic planning. Did the “planned” economy of the USSR or the “free market” economy of the U.S. allocate resources more productively? ...

New research finds that the top 1% of American companies control 90% of U.S. production-related assets and account for 80% of sales revenue. This means a relatively small number of companies are responsible for the majority of U.S. economic activity. ...

As a professor who teaches about supply chain issues, I have worked to understand the implications of planning. ..."

Does the US have a planned economy? You might be surprised

Malaysia's government to train 60,000 engineers in bid to become chip hub. Really!

Such ambitions by any government are laughable! Central planning by big government does not work without a free market economy!

"Malaysia plans to train 60,000 high-skilled local semiconductor engineers to help the country achieve its ambition of becoming a global chip hub, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced Tuesday.

The Southeast Asian country has been working to foster the semiconductor industry, positioning itself as a neutral hub for manufacturers, as global companies diversify their supply chains amid the growing U.S.-China rivalry and other geopolitical tensions. ..."

Malaysia to train 60,000 engineers in bid to become chip hub - Nikkei Asia Government to allocate $5.3bn in new National Semiconductor Strategy

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a semiconductor event in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.

Chinas Industriepolitik: Trügerisches Vorbild

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