nuOct 10, 2026, 06:50

Screen time | The Tax Authority can’t make it more fun, but they can make it more sovereign

The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration has decided to keep its office environment under its own management rather than migrating to Microsoft 365. State Secretary Eelco Eerenberg confirmed the shift, aiming to ensure digital sovereignty and better protection of sensitive taxpayer data.

The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, previously planning to migrate its office environment to Microsoft 365, has reversed its decision to prioritize digital sovereignty. State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg announced that the agency will now host its office environment internally, utilizing its own servers or controlled data centers. This move follows criticism regarding the risks of placing highly sensitive taxpayer data in an American-controlled cloud environment, particularly given potential geopolitical tensions. Increasing data center capacity made this shift in strategy possible, aligning with the new administration's goal of making the tax authority a leader in digital autonomy. Expert observers, including tech consultant Bert Hubert, have praised the change, noting that the agency holds some of the most private information of Dutch citizens, making domestic management essential for national security and data integrity. This marks a significant policy pivot from the previous administration, which had deemed independent hosting unfeasible just one year prior.

Economy Business Technology Netherlands

Read original ↗

Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

EU selects 46 raw materials projects to reduce dependence on China

The European Commission has launched 46 projects across sixteen countries to reduce reliance on China for vital raw materials like lithium and copper. These initiatives, supported by prioritized permits and funding assistance, aim to significantly boost domestic processing and recycling capacity by 2030.

AI is changing the workplace but will not lead to mass unemployment

Recent research from the AWVN indicates that 95 percent of employers are now using AI, primarily to increase efficiency rather than to reduce their workforce. While experts anticipate that some job functions will disappear over the long term, they emphasize that this transition will not lead to mass unemployment as new roles and tasks are expected to emerge.

Using electricity at night can save money: ACM wants power rates to depend on the time of day

The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is proposing time-based electricity transport tariffs to reduce peak grid pressure. By encouraging consumers to use electricity during off-peak hours, the plan aims to create capacity for 700,000 extra homes while lowering energy costs for many households.

Dutch online stores take on scammers and fake webshops

The number of victims of fake webshops in the Netherlands has risen to 1.2 million, prompting industry group Thuiswinkel.org to launch a new monitoring system to detect and block fraudulent sites. While official reports show over 20,000 cases of webshop fraud in 2024, authorities believe the actual number of victims is much higher due to widespread underreporting.

Essent expands services with fast charging for electric cars

Essent is becoming a major provider of public fast-charging for electric vehicles in the Netherlands by rebranding 79 locations and 370 charging points. The expansion, achieved through a collaboration with E.ON Drive Infrastructure, allows the company to provide charging services to motorists both at home and on the road.