This week, we’re seeing important shifts in digital rights policy, sharper warnings about cyber risk for small businesses, and growing concern for young people’s wellbeing online. We’ll also bring you a useful tip for protecting your business, and spotlight a tech opportunity especially relevant for female-driven innovation.
Dive Straight In…
What’s New This Week
Spain doubles down on digital rights with Latin America
Spain’s government is pushing to form an alliance with Latin American countries to promote and protect people’s rights in the digital realm. The plan includes setting up a Digital Rights Observatory to improve knowledge, safeguard privacy and ensure digital transformation is human‑centred.
Why it matters: Whether you’re an individual or a small business operating online, having clearer legal frameworks and international cooperation means stronger protection against misuse of your data and greater clarity about what your rights are.
Small businesses under growing cyber threat
According to Norton, cybersecurity breaches targeting small businesses and influencers are up by more than 50% in 2025; overall data exposure has increased 21% quarter to quarter.
Why it matters: If you run a small operation, this isn’t just a “big‑company” problem. Even simple things like weak passwords, delayed software updates, or lack of monitoring of what happens to your data (on social media, backups, etc.) can be exploited.
Children’s digital wellbeing gains urgency
Vodafone Foundation, together with Save the Children, released Click, Scroll, Connect ‒ and Balance, a report showing that children aged 9‑16 are increasingly exposed to online harms (misinformation, harassment, anxiety, etc.). The recommendation: improve guidance, skills curricula, and safeguards; also expand programmes that teach digital literacy, empathy, identity and security.
Why it matters: If your customers include young people, or you’re involved in education, parenting, or services aimed at minors, this shapes what users expect (and what regulators and society demand) in terms of safety, content moderation, privacy, etc.
Support for female‐led tech and startups
The EU‑funded Open Horizons project has closed its first open call: 256 applications from 32 countries; it will select 11 women‑led startups in digital or deep tech to receive financial support plus a 4‑week acceleration with mentoring.
Why it matters: This is a practical opportunity for female entrepreneurs or teams to get funding, mentorship, and access to networks. For small businesses thinking long term, diverse leadership increasingly delivers both innovation and sustainability.
Pocket Snapshot
This week’s Pocket Snapshot is cyber safety for small businesses:
Tip: Perform a “cyber‑health check” periodically.
- Steps to include:
- Review and update all passwords (use strong ones; use a password manager).
- Ensure all software, including phone apps and firmware (e.g. on routers) are up to date.
- Check backup routines and where data is stored (cloud / local) are secure and tested.
- Look for basic monitoring: know if your data is appearing in data leaks online; enable logs where possible.
This is low cost, but low effort means big risks.
What to Keep an Eye On
- How Spain’s Digital Rights Observatory evolves: the rules it helps shape will affect services, privacy practices and compliance overheads.
- Regulatory changes in the UK around online advertising and data use: may change what small businesses must do in cookie banners, tracking, consent.
- Technology platforms’ responses to the children’s wellbeing agenda: more content moderation, possibly new services aimed at age‑appropriate experiences.
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