The UK’s EU commissioner for security Sir Julian King says cyber threats aim to subvert democratic systems European Commission

The UK’s EU commissioner for security Sir Julian King says cyber threats aim to subvert democratic systems European Commission

EU plans to tackle fake news

It may have been April Fools day but a report in the Financial Times suggests that the European Union is serious about cracking down on fake news spread by social media. In a story picked up by other news outlets, the FT says the European Commission is drawing up the EU’s first policy on how to fight “online disinformation”. The paper says that Sir Julian King, European commissioner for security, is calling for a series of measures including limits on the harvesting of personal information for political purposes, the sort of tactic employed by Cambridge Analytica for several political campaigns recently. In a letter seen by the FT, King writes to Mariya Gabriel, commissioner for the digital economy, that there should be “more binding approach” than self-regulation to tackle the problem. He warns that the cyber-security threat aims to “deepen societal divides, subvert our democratic systems and raise questions about our democratic institutions.” The Commission will want to have legislation in place ahead of next year’s European Parliament elections, scheduled for the end of May 2019. The Guardian says that France and Malaysia have already pledged to legislate against fake news.

Mudam to fire curator?

Weekly newspaper Woxx has reported that Mudam is to sack its chief curator Clément Minighetti. The paper cites a source that claims the board has decided that new Mudam director Suzanne Cotter was made to choose between the two curators at the museum after it decided that one curator would suffice. The report follows hot on the heels of news that Wim Delvoye gothic-inspired chapel, one of the iconic permanent exhibits at the modern art museum is perhaps not as permanent as the artist may have hoped. According to Le Quotidien, the installation, which was created for the museum’s opening in 2006, will be removed in May. The museum has not yet commented on the report.

AC Milan Bitcoin debt payment declined

Crypto Globe reports on the latest finances of Chinese businessman Yonghong Li and his Luxembourg-registered company, Rossoneri Sport Investment Luxembourg. The chairman of Italian football club AC Milan, Yonghong Li has apparently had an offer declined to repay some of the loan he used to purchase the club. Rossoneri Sport Investment Luxembourg (named after Milan’s red-black nickname) bought the football club, one of the most iconic in the world, from Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest for €740 million. He did so with the aid of €180m in loans from hedge fund Elliott Management Corporation. Li has until April 4 pay back at least €10 million of that loan, and he apparently proposed using Bitcoin through a crypto payments service firm. But the offer was declined by Elliott Management. Football Italia says AC Milan needs around €35m of capital by June 30 to stay afloat and registered for the league next season.

Trump invited Putin to White House

Widespread reports in the media suggest that Donald Trump suggested the White House as the venue for a summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin during a phone call between the two presidents in March. Reuters is among many sources that cite Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov revealing the invitation on Monday.  “When our presidents spoke on the phone, Trump proposed having the first meeting in Washington, in the White House,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders did not confirm an invitation had been issued but she did say that the White House has been among a number of venues for a potential meeting that had been discussed.

Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts

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