digital industry

The digital industry now spends €151 million annually lobbying the European Union, a 33.6% increase since 2023 and up 55.6% since 2021. Lobbying staff has grown as well, from 699 full-time lobbyists in 2023 to 890 today. Commenters point to the scale of corporate influence over EU digital policy, including rules on AI, platforms and data, as figures keep rising year after year.

Germany is requiring manufacturers of the 50 digital health applications that are permanently listed on prescription to report usage data for the first time by 15 April 2027. The obligation, reported by PresseBox, marks a new reporting step in the regulation of apps prescribed through the statutory health system, and is drawing attention among healthcare and digital health industry observers.

Schneider Electric is reportedly close to agreeing a deal to buy PTC, the US industrial software company, in a transaction valued at more than $20 billion, according to Bloomberg. The acquisition would mark a major push by the French electrical equipment group into industrial software and digital manufacturing technology.

The US Treasury has withdrawn its proposed rule targeting cryptocurrency mixing services, amid concerns that the measure could interfere with legitimate activity. The proposal, aimed at curbing money laundering through mixing tools, had drawn criticism from the crypto industry. News of the retraction is being reported by Japanese crypto media such as CoinPost, drawing attention from Japan's active digital asset community.

Former PlayStation chief Shawn Layden is drawing attention after weighing in on Sony's approach to physical media. In an opinion piece, GamesIndustry.biz argues that Sony's consultation on the future of physical game releases is 'better late than never,' as the industry shifts toward digital-only distribution. Layden, who led PlayStation Studios until 2019, has been a vocal advocate for preserving physical games and game preservation more broadly.

Schneider Electric has agreed to acquire PTC, the US industrial software company, in a deal valued at more than $20 billion. The move would mark one of the largest acquisitions of an industrial technology firm, giving the French electrical equipment group a bigger stake in engineering and manufacturing software as interest in industrial digitalization grows.

Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly hit the Sasta arms manufacturing plant and a Yandex datacenter in Russia. The Sasta facility produces weapons for the Russian military, making it a significant target, while the Yandex datacenter strike touches major civilian digital infrastructure. The attacks fit a broader pattern of Ukrainian long-range drone operations deep inside Russian territory, which have increasingly targeted defense industry and logistics sites in recent months.

Google is pushing back against Hollywood's wariness of new technology, arguing the entertainment industry should embrace innovation rather than resist it. The message, reported by The New York Times, comes amid ongoing tensions between tech companies and filmmakers over issues like artificial intelligence, streaming and digital rights. The exchange highlights a continuing standoff between Silicon Valley and the entertainment world over how emerging tools will reshape creative work.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors' latest annual survey of community bankers shows that a majority of US community banks are hesitant about offering stablecoin services. Bankers remain concerned about the risks and regulatory implications of digital dollar tokens, even as larger institutions and fintech firms move into the space, highlighting a divide over how quickly community banks should adopt crypto-linked payment products.

TUXEDO Computers and the Swabian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Schwaben) held an online seminar on digital sovereignty and the role of open source software and Linux. The session was recorded, and the recording has now been made publicly available for those who could not attend live. The discussion reflects growing interest among German businesses in reducing dependence on proprietary software vendors.

The Asia Pacific Screen Printing & Digital Printing Exhibition and ASGA DigiPack Expo 2026 will take place from November 18 to 20, 2026, at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. The event brings together equipment manufacturers and printing and packaging industry suppliers, giving businesses a chance to showcase new technology and meet buyers across the region.

Investment research firm Zacks has highlighted two internet content stocks it considers worth buying despite headwinds across the digital content industry. The analysis, also circulated via Yahoo Finance, suggests the sector is struggling overall but that select companies offer attractive value. Investors are weighing which online content firms can withstand advertising and spending pressures.

Linux Europe's general manager says Europe needs to "step up" on funding open source software. The call highlights concern that critical open source projects, widely used across European public services and industry, remain underfunded and dependent on volunteer labour, and that Europe risks falling behind without sustained public investment.

Schneider Electric has moved to acquire software firm PTC, a deal that positions the French electrical equipment maker to compete more directly with Siemens in industrial automation and digital manufacturing software. The acquisition gives Schneider access to PTC's design and product lifecycle tools, strengthening its push into smart factory technology and putting it on a collision course with Siemens' dominant industrial software business.

Commentary in the financial press argues that Bitcoin and the wider crypto industry face challenges that go beyond the authority of US regulators such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The piece suggests structural issues in digital assets will persist regardless of how oversight is divided between the two agencies, a debate that continues as Washington works out how to police the sector.

Novvel.co is presenting what it calls a novel approach to graphic novels at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2026, according to Publishers Weekly. The company is among the exhibitors drawing attention at the fair, the world's largest gathering of the publishing industry, where graphic novels and digital reading platforms continue to be a focus of industry interest.

Digital health startup General Medicine has raised $120 million in funding to build what it calls 'the store'. Details on the investors, valuation, and what the product will offer have not yet been made widely available beyond the funding announcement headline. The company operates in the general medicine and digital health space.

The chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said new crypto rulemaking will prevent a collapse like the one at FTX from happening again. The comments signal the regulator's push for clearer oversight of digital asset markets in the wake of the exchange's 2022 failure, which wiped out customer funds and shook confidence across the industry.

The Frankfurt Book Fair 2026 is framing its programme around a global decline in reading, arguing that the crisis affects countries of every language and market. Publishers Weekly highlights the theme ahead of the fair, pointing to falling reading habits and engagement with books worldwide. Industry observers are expected to debate causes, from digital distraction to changing leisure habits, and what publishers can do to respond.

Fulton Bank has introduced Cashflow Central, a new digital platform aimed at helping small businesses manage their cash flow. Announced via a press release, the offering is designed to give smaller companies better tools for tracking and controlling their finances. No customer reaction has been recorded yet, with the news circulating mainly through financial press channels.

Beijing-based 51World, a digital twin technology company, is being linked to three top automation stocks in new market coverage. The report suggests investors are watching companies tied to 51World's simulation and digital twin platforms as interest grows in industrial automation and smart-city technology. Financial commentators are highlighting these names as potential beneficiaries of the digital twin trend.

A Wall Street Journal opinion piece examines the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's new regulatory framework for the crypto industry. The article is drawing attention in finance and crypto circles, where the CFTC's expanding role over digital assets remains a contested topic, with debate over how new rules will affect trading, compliance and innovation in the sector.