“Information is the new masonry, but wisdom is still the architect.” Dr Nicholas Jeffery explores Budapest’s digital transformation and the governance questions behind smart cities, as the historic Danube capital works to modernize infrastructure while preserving its architectural heritage.

The €525,000 GDPR fine against Locatefamily.com shows that non-EU companies are not outside Europe’s privacy laws. Any business processing EU residents’ personal data must appoint an EU legal representative. Ignoring governance requirements can trigger penalties, regardless of company size.